An Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics by Francis LeBlanc

Stellar Formation 49

Figure 2.3 Molecular clouds in the M16 nebula where star formation is present (NASA/courtesy
of nasaimages.org). (see colour plate.)

Special Topic The Initial Mass Function

Even when using crude statistical methods with a limited sampling of stars to study
stellar-mass distribution, it is easy to find that there exist many more low-mass stars
than high-mass ones in the Universe. In an attempt to determine the exact distribu-
tion of stars relative to their mass, a distribution function called the initial mass
function (IMF) is used. It should, however, be clear that a single function should not
be able to reproduce observations of all astronomical bodies (i.e. various types of
stellar clusters, galaxies, etc.) since many variables (such as the presence of a mag-
netic field, rotation or turbulence for instance) can affect the star formation process.
An example of the IMF for the stars in the solar neighbourhood is shown below.
The determination of the IMF is complex since it is luminosity (within a certain
wavelength range) that is observed rather than stellar masses. This luminosity must
than be transformed into stellar masses. Several complications occur. For example,
the distance to the various stars must be evaluated with precision. Also, absorption
or scattering from the interstellar medium can also come into play.
The Austrian born astronomer Edwin Ernest Salpeter (19242008) found that
the distribution of stellar masses varies as a power function and has the general
shape of M*-2.35. Salpeter s power law is compared to a more detailed determination
of the IMF for the solar neighbourhood in Figure 2.4. The variable that defines the
IMF is and gives the normalized number of stars formed per solar unit mass.
Salpeterss power law well reproduces the results shown in Figure 2.4 for the high-
mass tail end of the distribution. Figure 2.4 clearly shows that the star-formation
process preferably produces stars of low mass. This confirms the earlier statements
about the non-uniform mass distribution of stars.
50 An Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics

Figure 2.4 The initial mass function of the solar neighbourhood (solid curve) as compared
to Salpeter s power law (dashed curve). Figure reproduced with permission of Stahler, S.W.
and Palla, F., The Formation of Stars, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, p.125 (2004).

Contrarily to the results from the basic theoretical framework discussed above, observa-
tions show that most interstellar molecular clouds are not collapsing. The framework
shown above is therefore incomplete. The reader is reminded that physical phenomena
such as rotation, turbulence or the presence of magnetic fields were neglected in our
analysis and probably come into play. A triggering mechanism seems necessary to induce
gravitational collapse in molecular clouds. Several mechanisms are possible. For example,
a neighbouring supernova can cause a shock wave in molecular clouds and trigger collapse
and thereafter star formation. A collision between two interstellar clouds could also lead
to star formation.
Star formation is a process that is much more complex than that described in this section.
Star formation does not simply consist of a spherically symmetrical collapse of an inter-
stellar cloud. For example, circumstellar matter can form an accretion disk around proto-
stars. Jets of matter emanating from these young astronomical objects are also observed.
Moreover, debris (planets, asteroids, etc.) is left orbiting the newly formed stars.
Following the fragmentation process during star formation, newly created O- and B-type
stars can heat the part of the cloud left over. This hot gas is commonly called an HII
region, since hydrogen is ionised there due to the energetic photons emitted by these hot
stars. The typical temperature of HII regions is about 8000 K and these astronomical
structures are stable against gravitational collapse (see Exercise 2.8).