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An Observational Perspective of the IMF: Progress and Challenges

Part of: IAU Issue 315 - From Interstellar Clouds...

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 September 2016

Stella S. R. Offner
Stella S. R. Offner*
Affiliation:
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA email: soffner@astro.umass.edu
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Abstract

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The stellar initial mass function (IMF) is a fundamental astrophysical quantity that impacts a wide range of astrophysical problems from heavy element distribution to galactic evolution to planetary system formation. However, the origin and universality of the IMF are hotly debated both observationally and theoretically. I review recent observations of the IMF across a variety of environments. These suggest the IMF is surprisingly invariant between star-forming regions, star clusters, and spiral galaxies but that it may also vary under extreme conditions, including within the Galactic center and early type galaxies.

Keywords

star formationstarsinitial mass function

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