Population III Star Formation in an X-ray background: II. Protostellar Discs, Multiplicity and Mass Function of the Stars

TL;DR

This study investigates how X-ray backgrounds influence Population III star formation, revealing that X-ray irradiation stabilizes protostellar discs, reduces fragmentation, and results in a more top-heavy initial mass function with fewer, more massive stars.

Contribution

It provides new high-resolution simulation insights into the impact of X-ray backgrounds on primordial star formation, particularly on disc stability, multiplicity, and the initial mass function.

Findings

X-ray backgrounds stabilize protostellar discs, reducing fragmentation.

X-ray irradiation leads to fewer, less multiple star systems.

The initial mass function becomes more top-heavy with X-ray backgrounds.

Abstract

Disc fragmentation plays an important role in determining the number of primordial stars (Pop III stars), their masses, and hence the initial mass function. In this second paper of a series, we explore the effect of uniform FUV H$_2$-photodissociating and X-ray radiation backgrounds on the formation of Pop~III stars using a grid of high-resolution zoom-in simulations. We find that, in an X-ray background, protostellar discs have lower surface density and higher Toomre $Q$ parameter, so they are more stable. For this reason, X-ray irradiated discs undergo fewer fragmentations and typically produce either binary systems or low-multiplicity systems. In contrast, the cases with weak or no X-ray irradiation produce systems with a typical multiplicity of $6 \pm 3$. In addition, the most massive protostar in each system is smaller by roughly a factor of two when the disc is irradiated by X-rays, due to lower accretion rate. With these two effects combined, the initial mass function of fragments becomes more top-heavy in a strong X-ray background and is well described by a power-law with slope $1.53$ and high-mass cutoff of $61$ M$_\odot$. Without X-rays, we find a slope $0.49$ and cutoff mass of $229$ M$_\odot$. Finally, protostars migrate outward after their formation due to the accretion of high-angular momentum gas from outside and the migration is more frequent and significant in absence of X-ray irradiation.