A lambda=1.3 millimeter Survey for Disks around Herbig Be Stars

We present a survey of 24 Herbig Be stars (young stellar objects >3 M) within 3 kpc at 1.3 millimeters using the Submillimeter Array at about 1'' resolution to identify circumstellar disks and assess planet forming potential. We detect 1.3 mm emission toward 5 Herbig Be stars that range in mass from 4.3 to 12.9 M. Follow-up observations at 0.87 mm show spectral indices consistent with partly optically thick dust emission. These millimeter detections are compatible with an extrapolation of the scaling relation derived for lower-mass T Tauri and Herbig Ae stars between millimeter luminosity and stellar host mass, and also millimeter continuum size, suggesting these detections represent emission from circumstellar disks. The implied disk masses are sufficient for giant planet formation. No decrease in the millimeter detection fraction with stellar host mass is evident within this sample that would implicate rapid disk dissipation by the radiation fields of the higher mass stars. The high fraction of millimeter non-detections is likely due to the survey sensitivity limits together with photoevaporation and the dynamical impact of stellar companions.