A far-ultraviolet–driven photoevaporation flow observed in a protoplanetary disk
Authors: Berné Olivier , Habart Emilie , Peeters Els , Schroetter Ilane , Canin Amélie , Sidhu Ameek , Chown Ryan , Bron Emeric , Haworth Thomas J. , Klaassen Pamela , Trahin Boris , Van De Putte Dries , Alarcón Felipe , Zannese Marion , Abergel Alain , Bergin Edwin A. , Bernard-Salas Jeronimo , Boersma Christiaan , Cami Jan , Cuadrado Sara , Dartois Emmanuel , Dicken Daniel , Elyajouri Meriem , Fuente Asunción , Goicoechea Javier R. , Gordon Karl D. , Issa Lina , Joblin Christine , Kannavou Olga , Khan Baria , Lacinbala Ozan , Languignon David , Le Gal Romane , Maragkoudakis Alexandros , Meshaka Raphael , Okada Yoko , Onaka Takashi , Pasquini Sofia , Pound Marc W. , Robberto Massimo , Röllig Markus , Schefter Bethany , Schirmer Thiébaut , Simmer Thomas , Tabone Benoit , Tielens Alexander G. G. M. , Vicente Sílvia , Wolfire Mark G. ,   PDRs4All Team†, Aleman Isabel , Allamandola Louis , Auchettl Rebecca , Baratta Giuseppe Antonio , Baruteau Clément , Bejaoui Salma , Bera Partha P. , Black John H. , Boulanger Francois , Bouwman Jordy , Brandl Bernhard , Brechignac Philippe , Brünken Sandra , Buragohain Mridusmita , Burkhardt Andrew , Candian Alessandra , Cazaux Stéphanie , Cernicharo Jose , Chabot Marin , Chakraborty Shubhadip , Champion Jason , Colgan Sean W.J. , Cooke Ilsa R. , Coutens Audrey , Cox Nick L.J. , Demyk Karine , Meyer Jennifer Donovan , Engrand Cécile , Foschino Sacha , García-Lario Pedro , Gavilan Lisseth , Gerin Maryvonne , Godard Marie , Gottlieb Carl A. , Guillard Pierre , Gusdorf Antoine , Hartigan Patrick , He Jinhua , Herbst Eric , Hornekaer Liv , Jäger Cornelia , Janot-Pacheco Eduardo , Kaufman Michael , Kemper Francisca , Kendrew Sarah , Kirsanova Maria S. , Knight Collin , Kwok Sun , Labiano Álvaro , Lai Thomas S.-Y. , Lee Timothy J. , Lefloch Bertrand , Le Petit Franck , Li Aigen , Linz Hendrik , Mackie Cameron J. , Madden Suzanne C. , Mascetti Joëlle , McGuire Brett A. , Merino Pablo , Micelotta Elisabetta R. , Morse Jon A. , Mulas Giacomo , Neelamkodan Naslim , Ohsawa Ryou , Paladini Roberta , Palumbo Maria Elisabetta , Pathak Amit , Pendleton Yvonne J. , Petrignani Annemieke , Pino Thomas , Puga Elena , Rangwala Naseem , Rapacioli Mathias , Ricca Alessandra , Roman-Duval Julia , Roueff Evelyne , Rouillé Gaël , Salama Farid , Sales Dinalva A. , Sandstrom Karin , Sarre Peter , Sciamma-O’Brien Ella , Sellgren Kris , Shannon Matthew J. , Simonnin Adrien , Shenoy Sachindev S. , Teyssier David , Thomas Richard D. , Togi Aditya , Verstraete Laurent , Witt Adolf N. , Wootten Alwyn , Ysard Nathalie , Zettergren Henning , Zhang Yong , Zhang Ziwei E. , Zhen Junfeng 
Published: February 2024

Most low-mass stars form in stellar clusters that also contain massive stars, which are sources of far-ultraviolet (FUV) radiation. Theoretical models predict that this FUV radiation produces photodissociation regions (PDRs) on the surfaces of protoplanetary disks around low-mass stars, which affects planet formation within the disks. We report James Webb Space Telescope and Atacama Large Millimeter Array observations of a FUV-irradiated protoplanetary disk in the Orion Nebula. Emission lines are detected from the PDR; modeling their kinematics and excitation allowed us to constrain the physical conditions within the gas. We quantified the mass-loss rate induced by the FUV irradiation and found that it is sufficient to remove gas from the disk in less than a million years. This is rapid enough to affect giant planet formation in the disk.