The Initial Core Mass Function due to Ambipolar Diffusion in Molecular Clouds

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that ambipolar diffusion-driven fragmentation in molecular clouds naturally produces a core mass function closely matching the observed initial stellar mass function, with predictions testable by observations.

Contribution

It introduces a model linking ambipolar diffusion to the initial core mass function, aligning theoretical predictions with observed stellar mass distributions.

Findings

Core mass function matches observed initial stellar mass function

Model predictions are robust within observational parameter ranges

Provides testable observational predictions

Abstract

We show that the ambipolar-diffusion--initiated fragmentation of molecular clouds leads simply and naturally to an initial core mass function (CMF) which is very similar to the initial stellar mass function (IMF) and in excellent agreement with existing observations. This agreement is robust provided that the three (input) free parameters remain within their range of values suggested by observations. Other, observationally testable, predictions are made.