On the Origins of the Stellar Initial Mass Function: Azimuthally Symmetric Theory of Gravitation (III)
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2009
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Abstract
In this reading, a new theoreticalmodel of star and cluster formation is posited. Thismodel seeks
to set a mathematical framework to understand the origins of the stellar Initial Mass Function
and within this framework, explain star and cluster formation from a unified perspective by tieing
together into a single garment three important observational facts: (1) that the most massive
stars of most observed clusters of stars are preferentially found in their centers; (2) Larson’s
1982 empirical observation that the maximum stellar mass is related to the total mass of the
parent cloud; (3) that clump masses in giant molecular clouds exhibit a power mass spectrum
law akin to that found in star clusters and this behavior is also true for molecular clouds as well.
Key to this model is the way the cloud fragments to form cores from which the new stars are
born. We show that the recently proposed azimuthally symmetric theory of gravitation has two
scale of fragmentation where one is the scale that leads to cloud collapse and the other is the
scale on which the cloud fragments. The collapse and fragmentation takes place simultaneously.
If the proposed model is anything to go by, then, one can safely posit that the slope of the IMF
can be explained from two things: the star formation rate of the cores from which these stars
form and the density index describing the density profile. Additionally and more importantly,
if the present is anything to by, then, fragmentation of molecular clouds is posited as being a
result of them possessing some spin angular momentum.
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Nyambuya, G.G., 2009. On the Origins of the Stellar Initial Mass Function: Azimuthally Symmetric Theory of Gravitation (III), pp.1–12.