English
Related papers

Related papers: ALMA-IMF XV: The core mass function in the high-ma…

200 papers

Using an SPH simulation of a star-forming region in a molecular cloud, we show that the emergence of a clump mass function (CMF) resembling the stellar initial mass function (IMF) is a ubiquitous feature of molecular cloud structure, but…

Astrophysics · Physics 2009-11-13 Rowan J. Smith , Paul C. Clark , Ian A. Bonnell

When a detailed model of a stellar population is unavailable, it is most common to assume that stellar masses are independently and identically distributed according to some distribution: the universal initial mass function (IMF). However,…

Obtaining accurate measurements of the initial mass function (IMF) is often considered to be the key to understanding star formation, and a universal IMF is often assumed to imply a universal star formation process. Here, we illustrate that…

Astrophysics of Galaxies · Physics 2015-05-14 M. B. N. Kouwenhoven , S. P. Goodwin

There is substantial evidence that the initial mass function (IMF) may be a function of the local star formation conditions. In particular, the IMF is predicted to flatten with increasing local luminosity density, with the formation of…

Astrophysics · Physics 2009-10-30 Jason A. Taylor

The stellar initial mass function (IMF) is playing a critical role in the history of our universe. We propose a theory that is based solely on local processes, namely the dust opacity limit, the tidal forces and the properties of the…

Astrophysics of Galaxies · Physics 2019-10-09 Patrick Hennebelle , Yueh-Ning Lee , Gilles Chabrier

A robust stellar initial mass function (IMF) is crucial in any studies related to star formation. However, the direct measurement of the stellar IMF is confined to the local universe, limited by the resolving power of telescopes. Recently,…

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics · Physics 2026-02-12 Sung Kei Li

Although the stellar initial mass function (IMF) has only been directly determined in star clusters it has been manifoldly applied on galaxy-wide scales. But taking the clustered nature of star formation into account the galaxy-wide IMF is…

Astrophysics of Galaxies · Physics 2009-11-13 J. Pflamm-Altenburg , C. Weidner , P. Kroupa

We show that the ambipolar-diffusion--initiated fragmentation of molecular clouds leads simply and naturally to an initial core mass function (CMF) which is very similar to the initial stellar mass function (IMF) and in excellent agreement…

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics · Physics 2015-05-13 Matthew W. Kunz , Telemachos Ch. Mouschovias

(abridged) We develop a model which describes the coevolution of the mass function of dense cores and of the IMF in a protocluster clump. In the model, cores injected in the clump evolve under the effect of gas accretion. Accretion onto the…

Astrophysics of Galaxies · Physics 2015-05-14 Sami Dib , Mohsen Shadmehri , Paolo Padoan , G. Maheswar , D. K. Ojha , Fazeleh Khajenabi

Stars form in dense, dusty clumps of molecular clouds, but little is known about their origin and evolution. In particular, the relationship between the mass distribution of these clumps (also known as the "clump mass function", or CMF) and…

The distribution of stars and stellar remnants (white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes) within globular clusters holds clues about their formation and long-term evolution, with important implications for their initial mass function (IMF)…

Astrophysics of Galaxies · Physics 2023-05-03 Nolan Dickson , Vincent Hénault-Brunet , Holger Baumgardt , Mark Gieles , Peter Smith

We use Gaia DR2 to measure the initial mass function (IMF) of stars within 250 pc and masses in the range 0.2 < m/Msun < 1.0, separated according to kinematics and metallicity, as determined from Gaia transverse velocity, v_T, and location…

Astrophysics of Galaxies · Physics 2021-08-11 Na'ama Hallakoun , Dan Maoz

Recent studies proposed that cosmic rays (CR) are a key ingredient in setting the conditions for star formation, thanks to their ability to alter the thermal and chemical state of dense gas in the UV-shielded cores of molecular clouds. In…

Astrophysics of Galaxies · Physics 2018-02-14 Fabio Fontanot , Gabriella De Lucia , Lizhi Xie , Michaela Hirschmann , Gustavo Bruzual , Stephane Charlot

Theoretical arguments and indirect observational evidence suggest that the stellar initial mass function (IMF) may evolve with time, such that it is more weighted toward high mass stars at higher redshift. Here we test this idea by…

Astrophysics · Physics 2010-01-07 Pieter van Dokkum

The initial mass function (IMF) is a construct that describes the distribution of stellar masses for a newly formed population of stars. It is a fundamental element underlying all of star and galaxy formation, and has been the subject of…

Astrophysics of Galaxies · Physics 2025-03-26 Diego Salvador , Andrew Hopkins , Matt Owers , Themiya Nanayakkara , Scott Croom

Hub-filament systems are considered as natural sites for high-mass star formation. Kinematic analysis of the surroundings of hub-filaments is essential to better understand high-mass star formation within such systems. In this work, we…

We test the hypothesis that the initial mass function (IMF) is determined by the density probability distribution function (PDF) produced by supersonic turbulence. We compare 14 simulations of star cluster formation in 50 solar mass…

Astrophysics of Galaxies · Physics 2016-12-07 David Liptai , Daniel J. Price , James Wurster , Matthew R. Bate

Classical theories for the stellar initial mass function (IMF) predict a peak mass which scales with the properties of the molecular cloud. In this work, we explore a new theory proposed by Lee & Hennebelle (2018). The idea is that the…

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics · Physics 2020-01-22 Tine Colman , Romain Teyssier