The Variation of the Galaxy-Wide IMF for Low-Mass Stars: Modeling and Observational Insights

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Yan, Zhiqiang, Li, Jiadong, Kroupa, Pavel, Jerabkova, Tereza, Gjergo, Eda, Zhang, Zhi-Yu
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Yan, Zhiqiang
Li, Jiadong
Kroupa, Pavel
Jerabkova, Tereza
Gjergo, Eda
Zhang, Zhi-Yu
author_facet Yan, Zhiqiang
Li, Jiadong
Kroupa, Pavel
Jerabkova, Tereza
Gjergo, Eda
Zhang, Zhi-Yu
contents The Stellar Initial Mass Function (IMF) characterizes the mass distribution of newly formed stars in various cosmic environments, serving as a fundamental assumption in astrophysical research. Recent findings challenge the prevalent notion of a universal and static IMF, proposing instead that the IMF's shape is contingent upon the star formation environment. In this study, we analyze the galaxy-wide variation of the IMF for low-mass stars in both dwarf and massive galaxies with diverse observational methods. Despite systematic discrepancies between different approaches, an IMF model with a metallicity-dependent slope for the low-mass stars aligns with the majority of observations, indicating a high degree of uniformity in the star formation processes across the universe. We also emphasize the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the variation of the low-mass IMF, considering measurement biases and factors beyond metallicity.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2405_05308
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The Variation of the Galaxy-Wide IMF for Low-Mass Stars: Modeling and Observational Insights
Yan, Zhiqiang
Li, Jiadong
Kroupa, Pavel
Jerabkova, Tereza
Gjergo, Eda
Zhang, Zhi-Yu
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
The Stellar Initial Mass Function (IMF) characterizes the mass distribution of newly formed stars in various cosmic environments, serving as a fundamental assumption in astrophysical research. Recent findings challenge the prevalent notion of a universal and static IMF, proposing instead that the IMF's shape is contingent upon the star formation environment. In this study, we analyze the galaxy-wide variation of the IMF for low-mass stars in both dwarf and massive galaxies with diverse observational methods. Despite systematic discrepancies between different approaches, an IMF model with a metallicity-dependent slope for the low-mass stars aligns with the majority of observations, indicating a high degree of uniformity in the star formation processes across the universe. We also emphasize the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the variation of the low-mass IMF, considering measurement biases and factors beyond metallicity.
title The Variation of the Galaxy-Wide IMF for Low-Mass Stars: Modeling and Observational Insights
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.05308