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Measuring the Initial Mass Function of Low Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 November 2012

R.D. Jeffries
R.D. Jeffries*
Affiliation:
Astrophysics Group, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK. e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

I review efforts to determine the form and any lower limit to the initial mass function in the Galactic disk, using observations of low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in the field, young clusters and star forming regions. I focus on the methodologies that have been used and the uncertainties that exist due to observational limitations and to systematic uncertainties in calibrations and theoretical models. I conclude that whilst it is possible that the low-mass IMFs deduced from the field and most young clusters are similar, there are too many problems to be sure; there are examples of low-mass cluster IMFs that appear to be very discrepant and the IMFs for brown dwarfs in the field and young clusters have yet to be reconciled convincingly.

Type
Research Article
Information
European Astronomical Society Publications Series , Volume 57: Low-Mass Stars and the Transition Stars/Brown Dwarfs - Evry Schatzman School on Stellar Physics XXIII , 2012 , pp. 45 - 89
Copyright
© EAS, EDP Sciences 2012

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