Evolution of Circumstellar Accretion Disks

John Carpenter
Caltech

Optical, infrared, and submillimeter observations have conclusively
demonstrated that circumstellar disks are ubiquitous around young solar-mass
stars. Observations are now advancing to characterize the temporal evolution 
of disks in terms of dust and gas mass, mineralogy, and structure. Ultimately, 
these data will establish empirically the time scales over which planets may
form around a star. In this talk, I summarize recent millimeter and infrared 
observations designed to measure the temporal evolution of disks. I will focus 
in particular on a millimeter-wavelength continuum survey for disks in the 
IC 348 stellar cluster conducted with the OVRO interferometer. I will also 
discuss how the unique capabilities of the SMA will dramatically improve our 
understanding of the evolution of circumstellar disks