The Myth of the IMF

Details The Myth of the IMF The Myth of the IMF

Nov 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009rmxac..37...21m&link_type=abstract

A Long Walk Through Astronomy: A Celebration of Luis Carrasco's 60th Birthday (Eds. E. Recillas, A. Luna, & Y. D. Mayya) Revista

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Ism: Structure, Stars: Formation, Stars: Luminosity Function, Mass Function

Scientific paper

The Myth of Science is the idea that complex phenomena in Nature can be reduced to a set of equations based on the fundamental laws of physics. The Myth of the IMF is the notion that the observed distribution of stellar masses at birth (the IMF) can and must be explained by any successful theory of star formation. In this contribution I argue that the IMF is the result of the complex evolution of the interstellar medium in galaxies, and that as such the IMF preserves very little information, if any, about the detailed physics of star formation. Trying to infer the physics of star formation from the IMF is like trying to understand the personality of Beethoven from the power-spectrum of the Ninth Symphony!

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