Photoevaporation is the process where energetic radiation ionises gas and causes it to disperse away from the ionising source. The term is typically used in an astrophysical context where ultravioletradiation from hot stars acts on clouds of material such as molecular clouds, protoplanetary disks, or planetary atmospheres.[1][2][3]
^Mellema, G.; Raga, A. C.; Canto, J.; Lundqvist, P.; Balick, B.; Steffen, W.; Noriega-Crespo, A. (1998). "Photo-evaporation of clumps in planetary nebulae". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 331: 335. arXiv:astro-ph/9710205. Bibcode:1998A&A...331..335M.