The initial core mass function due to ambipolar diffusion in molecular clouds

Matthew W. Kunz; Telemachos Ch Mouschovias

doi:10.1111/j.1745-3933.2009.00731.x

The initial core mass function due to ambipolar diffusion in molecular clouds

Matthew W. Kunz, Telemachos Ch Mouschovias

Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

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 is in excellent agreement with existing observations. This agreement is robust provided that the three (input) free parameters remain within their range of values suggested by observations. Other, observationally testable, predictions are made.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L94-L98
Journal	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Volume	399
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-3933.2009.00731.x
State	Published - Oct 2009

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

Diffusion
ISM: clouds
ISM: individual: orion
Magnetic fields
Stars: formation
Stars: luminosity function, mass function

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abstract = "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 is in excellent agreement with existing observations. This agreement is robust provided that the three (input) free parameters remain within their range of values suggested by observations. Other, observationally testable, predictions are made.",

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T1 - The initial core mass function due to ambipolar diffusion in molecular clouds

AU - Kunz, Matthew W.

AU - Mouschovias, Telemachos Ch

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N2 - 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 is in excellent agreement with existing observations. This agreement is robust provided that the three (input) free parameters remain within their range of values suggested by observations. Other, observationally testable, predictions are made.

AB - 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 is in excellent agreement with existing observations. This agreement is robust provided that the three (input) free parameters remain within their range of values suggested by observations. Other, observationally testable, predictions are made.

KW - Diffusion

KW - ISM: clouds

KW - ISM: individual: orion

KW - Magnetic fields

KW - Stars: formation

KW - Stars: luminosity function, mass function

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JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters

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