The evolution of the core mass function by gas accretion

TL;DR

This paper investigates how gas accretion influences the evolution of the core mass function in molecular clouds, leading to more massive cores and a flatter distribution, with observable effects in star-forming regions.

Contribution

It introduces a model showing the impact of gas accretion on the evolution of the core mass function during gravoturbulent fragmentation.

Findings

Gas accretion causes a flattening of the core mass function.

More massive cores form due to accretion effects.

Differences in core mass functions are observable in various environments.

Abstract

We show how the mass function of dense cores (CMF) which results from the gravoturbulent fragmentation of a molecular cloud evolves in time under the effect of gas accretion. Accretion onto the cores leads to the formation of larger numbers of massive cores and to a flattening of the CMF. This effect should be visible in the CMF of star forming regions that are massive enough to contain high mass cores and when comparing the CMF of cores in and off dense filaments which have different environmental gas densities.