335 research outputs found
A Universal Stellar Initial Mass Function? A Critical Look at Variations
Few topics in astronomy initiate such vigorous discussion as whether or not
the initial mass function (IMF) of stars is universal, or instead sensitive to
the initial conditions of star formation. The distinction is of critical
importance: the IMF influences most of the observable properties of stellar
populations and galaxies, and detecting variations in the IMF could provide
deep insights into the process by which stars form. In this review, we take a
critical look at the case for IMF variations, with a view towards whether other
explanations are sufficient given the evidence. Studies of the field, local
young clusters and associations, and old globular clusters suggest that the
vast majority were drawn from a "universal" IMF: a power-law of Salpeter index
() above a few solar masses, and a log normal or shallower
power-law () between a few tenths and a few solar masses
(ignoring the effects of unresolved binaries). The shape and universality of
the IMF at the stellar-substellar boundary is still under investigation and
uncertainties remain large, but most observations are consistent with a IMF
that declines () well below the hydrogen burning limit.
Observations of resolved stellar populations and the integrated properties of
most galaxies are also consistent with a "universal IMF", suggesting no gross
variations in the IMF over much of cosmic time. There are indications of
"non-standard" IMFs in specific local and extragalactic environments, which
clearly warrant further study. Nonetheless, there is no clear evidence that the
IMF varies strongly and systematically as a function of initial conditions
after the first few generations of stars.Comment: 49 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Annual Reviews of Astronomy and
Astrophysics (2010, volume 48
IN-SYNC. VIII. Primordial Disk Frequencies in NGC 1333, IC 348, and the Orion A Molecular Cloud
In this paper, we address two issues related to primordial disk evolution in
three clusters (NGC 1333, IC 348, and Orion A) observed by the INfrared Spectra
of Young Nebulous Clusters (IN-SYNC) project. First, in each cluster, averaged
over the spread of age, we investigate how disk lifetime is dependent on
stellar mass. The general relation in IC 348 and Orion A is that primordial
disks around intermediate mass stars (2--5) evolve faster than those
around loss mass stars (0.1--1), which is consistent with previous
results. However, considering only low mass stars, we do not find a significant
dependence of disk frequency on stellar mass. These results can help to better
constrain theories on gas giant planet formation timescales. Secondly, in the
Orion A molecular cloud, in the mass range of 0.35--0.7, we provide
the most robust evidence to date for disk evolution within a single cluster
exhibiting modest age spread. By using surface gravity as an age indicator and
employing 4.5 excess as a primordial disk diagnostic, we observe a
trend of decreasing disk frequency for older stars. The detection of
intra-cluster disk evolution in NGC 1333 and IC 348 is tentative, since the
slight decrease of disk frequency for older stars is a less than 1-
effect.Comment: 25 pages, 26 figures; submitted for publication (ApJ
Nothing to hide: An X-ray survey for young stellar objects in the Pipe Nebula
We have previously analyzed sensitive mid-infrared observations to establish
that the Pipe Nebula has a very low star-formation efficiency. That study
focused on YSOs with excess infrared emission (i.e, protostars and pre-main
sequence stars with disks), however, and could have missed a population of more
evolved pre-main sequence stars or Class III objects (i.e., young stars with
dissipated disks that no longer show excess infrared emission). Evolved
pre-main sequence stars are X-ray bright, so we have used ROSAT All-Sky Survey
data to search for diskless pre-main sequence stars throughout the Pipe Nebula.
We have also analyzed archival XMM-Newton observations of three prominent areas
within the Pipe: Barnard 59, containing a known cluster of young stellar
objects; Barnard 68, a dense core that has yet to form stars; and the Pipe
molecular ring, a high-extinction region in the bowl of the Pipe. We
additionally characterize the X-ray properties of YSOs in Barnard 59. The ROSAT
and XMM-Newton data provide no indication of a significant population of more
evolved pre-main sequence stars within the Pipe, reinforcing our previous
measurement of the Pipe's very low star formation efficiency.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap
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