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arXiv 1011.6512astro-ph.SR
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寻找恒星初始质量函数的系统变化

Looking for Systematic Variations in the Stellar Initial Mass Function

Nate Bastian, Kevin R. Covey, Michael R. Meyer

摘要:

在天文学中,很少有话题会引发如此激烈的讨论,比如恒星的初始质量函数(IMF)是否是普适的,或者对恒星形成的初始条件敏感。这种区别至关重要:IMF影响了恒星星族和星系的大多数可观测性质,检测IMF的变化可以深入了解恒星形成的过程。在这篇文章中,我们对国际货币基金组织的变化情况进行了批判性的研究,以确定其他解释是否足以提供证据。对该领域、当地年轻星团和协会以及老球状星团的研究表明,绝大多数来自一个“普遍的”IMF。观测到的已分辨的恒星星族和大多数星系的综合性质也与“普遍的IMF”一致,表明IMF在宇宙时间的大部分时间里没有明显的变化。在这里,我们专注于1)附近的恒星形成区域,在那里可以分辨出单个恒星以提供IMF的完整视图,2)恒星爆发环境,特别是超级星团,它们是宇宙中最极端的物体,也是附近的恒星系统(例如球状星团和矮球状星系)在高红移时形成,可以进行非常详细的研究(即近场宇宙学)。

英文摘要:

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 contribution, 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. 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. Here we focus on 1) nearby star-forming regions, where individual stars can be resolved to give a complete view of the IMF, 2) star-burst environments, in particular super-star clusters which are some of the most extreme objects in the universe and 3) nearby stellar systems (e.g. globular clusters and dwarf spheroidal galaxies) that formed at high redshift and can be studied in extreme detail (i.e. near-field cosmology).

机构、总结、中文摘要均由AI分析而来,可能存在错误,请以论文正文为准。

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