articleAnnual Review of Astronomy and AstrophysicsAug 1, 2010GREEN OA

A Universal Stellar Initial Mass Function? A Critical Look at Variations

NBNate BastianKRKevin R. CoveyMRMichael R. Meyer

University of Cambridge · Cornell University · +3 more institutions

Indexed inarxivcrossref

Abstract

Whether the stellar initial mass function (IMF) is universal or is instead sensitive to environmental conditions is of critical importance: The IMF influences most observable properties of stellar populations and thus galaxies, and detecting variations in the IMF could provide deep insights into the star formation process. This review critically examines reports of IMF variations, with a view toward whether other explanations are sufficient given the evidence. Studies of the field, young clusters and associations, and old globular clusters suggest that the vast majority were drawn from a universal system IMF: a power law of Salpeter index (Γ = 1.35) above a few solar masses, and a log normal or shallower power…

Citation impact

983
total citations
FWCI
50.18
Percentile
100%
References
304
Citations per year

Authors

3
  • NB
    Nate BastianCorresponding

    University of Cambridge

  • KR
    Kevin R. Covey

    Cornell University, Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian

  • MR
    Michael R. Meyer

    University of Arizona, ETH Zurich

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Initial mass function
  • Universality (dynamical systems)
  • Globular cluster
  • Galaxy
  • Stellar mass
  • Observable
  • Star formation
  • Brown dwarf
No related works found for this paper.

Funding