PROTOPLANETARY AND TRANSITIONAL DISKS IN THE OPEN STELLAR CLUSTER IC 2395

Abstract

We present new deep UBVRI images and high-resolution multi-object optical spectroscopy of the young (similar to 6-10 Myr old), relatively nearby (800 pc) open cluster IC 2395. We identify nearly 300 cluster members and use the photometry to estimate their spectral types, which extend from early B to middle M. We also present an infrared imaging survey of the central region using the IRAC and MIPS instruments on board the Spitzer Space Telescope, covering the wavelength range from 3.6 to 24 mu m. Our infrared observations allow us to detect dust in circumstellar disks originating over a typical range of radii from similar to 0.1 to similar to 10 au from the central star. We identify 18 Class II, 8 transitional disk, and 23 debris disk candidates, respectively, 6.5%, 2.9%, and 8.3% of the cluster members with appropriate data. We apply the same criteria for transitional disk identification to 19 other stellar clusters and associations spanning ages from similar to 1 to similar to 18 Myr. We find that the number of disks in the transitional phase as a fraction of the total with strong 24 mu m excesses ([8] - [24]. 1.5) increases from (8.4. +/- 1.3)% at similar to 3 Myr to (46. +/- 5)% at similar to 10 Myr. Alternative definitions of transitional disks will yield different percentages but should show the same trend.