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The Astrophysical Journal
Article . 2002 . Peer-reviewed
Data sources: Crossref
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https://dx.doi.org/10.48550/ar...
Article . 2002
License: arXiv Non-Exclusive Distribution
Data sources: Datacite
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The Stellar Initial Mass Function in Primordial Galaxies

Authors: Nakamura, Fumitaka; Umemura, Masayuki;

The Stellar Initial Mass Function in Primordial Galaxies

Abstract

In the context of star formation through fragmentation of an extremely metal-deficient protogalactic cloud, the gravitational collapse of filamentary gas clouds is explored with 1D numerical hydrodynamics coupled with non-equilibrium chemistry of H$_2$ and HD. It is found that the cloud evolution is governed mainly by the initial central density ($n_{\rm c,0}$) and H$_2$ abundance ($x_{\rm H_2,0}$). In particular, the evolution of low-density filaments bifurcates at a threshold H$_2$ abundance of $x_{\rm H_2,cr}\simeq 3 \times 10^{-3}$, beyond which HD cooling overwhelms H$_2$ cooling. The contraction of a low density filament with $x_{\rm H_2, 0}\gtrsim x_{\rm H_2,cr}$ is strongly decelerated when $n_{\rm c}$ reaches a critical density of HD, and the filament is expected to fragment at $\sim 10^{7}$ cm$^{-3}$. The fragment mass is lowered to be $\approx 10M_\odot$. In contrast, the contraction of a low density filament with $x_{\rm H_2, 0}\lesssim x_{\rm H_2,cr}$ is regulated by H$_2$ cooling. In this case, the fragment mass is as high as $\approx 10^2M_\odot$. For a high-density filament, the cloud evolution is governed by H$_2$ cooling. The fragmentation is not expected to take place until the cloud becomes opaque in H$_2$ lines at $n_{\rm c,0}\sim 10^{12-13}$ cm$^{-3}$, so that the fragment mass is reduced to 1-2 M$_\odot$. As a result, the stellar IMF could be bimodal and deficient in sub-solar mass stars, where the high mass peak is around $10M_\odot$ or $10^2M_\odot$, dependently on $n_{\rm c,0}$ and $x_{\rm H_2,0}$.

10 pages, 6 figures, accepted by ApJ

Keywords

Astrophysics (astro-ph), FOS: Physical sciences, Astrophysics

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
114
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 1%
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