Cosmic Threads: Interlinking the Stellar Initial Mass Function from Star-Birth to Galaxies
Abstract
The stellar initial mass function (sIMF) describes the distribution of stellar masses formed in a single star formation event in a molecular cloud clump. It is fundamental to astrophysics and cosmology, shaping our understanding of unresolved stellar populations, galactic chemical enrichment and habitable zones, and black hole growth. This White Paper reviews studies on the core mass function, stellar multiplicity, and dynamical processes affecting sIMF determinations, as well as the link between star-forming clumps and the galaxy-wide IMF (gIMF). The evidence gleaned from observed systems for the dependency of the sIMF on the metallicity and density of the clump is portrayed. We examine evidence from gravitational lensing, stellar and gas kinematics, and spectral diagnostics to assess environmental dependencies of the gIMF. Theoretical perspectives provide further insights into the sIMF's variability. Beyond summarizing current knowledge, this work aims to establish a shared framework and define strategies for studying a variable IMF in the era of near-infrared integral-field spectroscopy, 30m-class telescopes and major space-based observatories.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2509.06886,
title = {Cosmic Threads: Interlinking the Stellar Initial Mass Function from Star-Birth to Galaxies},
author = {Tereza Jerabkova and Donatella Romano and Pavel Kroupa and Philippe André and Martyna Chruślińska and Fabio Fontanot and Andrew Hopkins and Vikrant Jadhav and Natalia Lahén and Yueh-Ning Lee and Alessio Mucciarelli and Stefania Salvadori and Long Wang and Zhiqiang Yan and Morten Andersen and Anna Durrant and Fabien Louvet and Mariya Lyubenova and Francesca Matteucci and Piyush Sharda and Glenn van de Ven and Alexandre Vazdekis},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2509.06886},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
White Paper reviewing the stellar IMF from star-forming clumps to galaxies. Prepared as an outcome of the Sesto workshop, it summarizes observational and theoretical evidence for IMF variability with metallicity and density, and outlines strategies for studying the IMF with new spectroscopic facilities. Submitted to Memorie della SAIt, under review. Comments welcome!