The low-luminosity stellar mass function.
Abstract
The stellar mass function for low-mass stars is constrained using the stellar luminosity function and the slope of the mass-luminosity relation. The range of mass functions is investigated for stars with absolute visual magnitude fainter than +5 which are consistent with both the local luminosity function and the rather poorly determined mass-absolute visual magnitude relation. Points of inflection in the mass-luminosity relation exist because of the effects of H(-), H2 and of other molecules on the opacity and equation of state. The first two of these correspond to absolute magnitudes +7 and +12, respectively, at which structure is evident in the stellar luminosity function (a flattening and a maximum, respectively). By combining the mass-luminosity relation which shows these inflexion points with a peaked luminosity function, smooth mass functions are tested in the mass range 0.9-0.1 solar mass.
- Publication:
-
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- May 1990
- Bibcode:
- 1990MNRAS.244...76K
- Keywords:
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- Mass To Light Ratios;
- Stellar Luminosity;
- Stellar Mass;
- Astronomical Models;
- Hydrogen;
- Stellar Atmospheres;
- Stellar Magnitude;
- Astrophysics