A physical model for the stellar IMF
Abstract
We propose that the stellar initial mass function (IMF) arises as a consequence of the existence of random supersonic flows in molecular clouds. A Miller-Scalo like IMF is predicted for the typical physical conditions in molecular clouds, and a more ``massive'' one in star bursts.
- Publication:
-
The Seventh Astrophysical Conference: Star formation, near and far
- Pub Date:
- February 1997
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.52773
- Bibcode:
- 1997AIPC..393..101P
- Keywords:
-
- 98.38.Dq;
- 97.10.Bt;
- 97.21.+a;
- 47.40.Ki;
- Molecular clouds H<sub>2</sub> clouds dense clouds and dark clouds;
- Star formation;
- Pre-main sequence objects young stellar objects and protostars;
- Supersonic and hypersonic flows