Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2012-01-18
Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series 440 (2011) 261-268
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
Proceedings to the conference "UP: Have Observations Revealed a Variable Upper End of the Initial Mass Funktion?" that was hel
Scientific paper
Ultra compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs) are dense stellar systems at the border between massive star-clusters and small galaxies. Their on average high optical mass-to-light (M/L) ratio cannot be explained by stellar populations with the canonical stellar initial mass function (IMF), while it is doubtful that non-baryonic dark matter can accumulate enough on the scales of UCDs for influencing their dynamics significantly. UCDs in the Virgo galaxy cluster apparently also have an over-abundance of neutron stars, strongly suggesting a top-heavy IMF, which would explain both findings. This is because a top-heavy IMF can provide the unseen mass through an abundance of stellar remnants. The suggested variation of the IMF can be understood if UCDs represent a case of rapid star-formation in an extremely dense environment. While top-heavy IMFs imply a much heavier mass-loss shortly after the formation of a stellar system, this process does not necessarily dissolve the UCDs. Their formation with a top-heavy IMF would therefore not contradict their existence.
Dabringhausen Jörg
Kroupa Pavel
No associations
LandOfFree
Top-heavy IMFs in ultra compact dwarf galaxies? 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 Top-heavy IMFs in ultra compact dwarf galaxies?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Top-heavy IMFs in ultra compact dwarf galaxies? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-253325