A SCUBA survey of Orion, the low-mass end of the core mass function

Details A SCUBA survey of Orion, the low-mass end of the core mass function A SCUBA survey of Orion, the low-mass end of the core mass function

2006-11-06

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0611164v1

Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc.374:1413-1420,2007

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

9 pages, inc. 6 figures (+ Appendix; 1 Table = 6 pages)

Scientific paper

10.1111/j.1365-2966.2006.11246.x

We have re-analysed all of the SCUBA archive data of the Orion star-forming regions. We have put together all of the data taken at different times by different groups. Consequently we have constructed the deepest submillimetre maps of these regions ever made. There are four regions that have been mapped: Orion A North & South, and Orion B North & South. We find that two of the regions, Orion A North and Orion B North, have deeper sensitivity and completeness limits, and contain a larger number of sources, so we concentrate on these two. We compare the data with archive data from the Spitzer Space Telescope to determine whether or not a core detected in the submillimetre is pre-stellar in nature. We extract all of the pre-stellar cores from the data and make a histogram of the core masses. This can be compared to the stellar initial mass function (IMF). We find the high-mass core mass function follows a roughly Salpeter-like slope, just like the IMF, as seen in previous work. Our deeper maps allow us to see that the core mass function (CMF) turns over at ~ 1.3 Mo, about a factor of 4 higher than our completeness limit. This turnover has never previously been observed, and is only visible here due to our much deeper maps. It mimics the turnover seen in the stellar IMF at ~ 0.1 Mo. The low-mass side of the CMF is a power-law with an exponent of 0.35 +/- 0.2, which is consistent with the low-mass slope of the young cluster IMF of 0.3 +/- 0.1. This shows that the CMF continues to mimic the shape of the IMF all the way down to the lower completeness limit of these data at ~ 0.3 Mo.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

A SCUBA survey of Orion, the low-mass end of the core mass function does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with A SCUBA survey of Orion, the low-mass end of the core mass function, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A SCUBA survey of Orion, the low-mass end of the core mass function will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-296688