No Arabic abstract
We examine whether existing data in clusters, both old and young, and in the field of the Galactic disk and halo is consistent with a universal slope for the initial mass function (IMF). The most reasonable statement that can be made at the current time is that there is no strong evidence to support a claim of any real variations in this slope. If the IMF slope is universal then this in itself is remarkable implying that variations in metallicity, gas density or other environmental factors in the star formation process play no part in determining the slope of the mass function.
Boomerang, Maxima, DASI, CBI and VSA significantly increase the case for accelerated expansion in the early universe (the inflationary paradigm) and at the current epoch (dark energy dominance), especially when combined with data on high redshift supernovae (SN1) and large scale structure (LSS). There are ``7 pillars of Inflation that can be shown with the CMB probe, and at least 5, and possibly 6, of these have already been demonstrated in the CMB data: (1) a large scale gravitational potential; (2) acoustic peaks/dips; (3) damping due to shear viscosity; (4) a Gaussian (maximally random) distribution; (5) secondary anisotropies; (6) polarization. A 7th pillar, anisotropies induced by gravity wave quantum noise, could be too small. A minimal inflation parameter set, omega_b,omega_{cdm}, Omega_{tot}, Omega_Q,w_Q,n_s,tau_C, sigma_8}, is used to illustrate the power of the current data. We find the CMB+LSS+SN1 data give Omega_{tot} =1.00^{+.07}_{-.03}, consistent with (non-baroque) inflation theory. Restricting to Omega_{tot}=1, we find a nearly scale invariant spectrum, n_s =0.97^{+.08}_{-.05}. The CDM density, Omega_{cdm}{rm h}^2 =.12^{+.01}_{-.01}, and baryon density, Omega_b {rm h}^2 = >.022^{+.003}_{-.002}, are in the expected range. (The Big Bang nucleosynthesis estimate is 0.019pm 0.002.) Substantial dark (unclustered) energy is inferred, Omega_Q approx 0.68 pm 0.05, and CMB+LSS Omega_Q values are compatible with the independent SN1 estimates. The dark energy equation of state, crudely parameterized by a quintessence-field pressure-to-density ratio w_Q, is not well determined by CMB+LSS (w_Q < -0.4 at 95% CL), but when combined with SN1 the resulting w_Q < -0.7 limit is quite consistent with the w_Q=-1 cosmological constant case.
Stars form from dense molecular cores, and the mass function of these cores (the CMF) is often found to be similar to the form of the stellar initial mass function (IMF). This suggests that the form of the IMF is the result of the form of the CMF. However, most stars are thought to form in binary and multiple systems, therefore the relationship between the IMF and the CMF cannot be trivial. We test two star formation scenarios - one in which all stars form as binary or triple systems, and one in which low-mass stars form in a predominantly single mode. We show that from a log-normal CMF, similar to those observed, and expected on theoretical grounds, the model in which all stars form as multiples gives a better fit to the IMF.
In this overview I sketch briefly the path to the so-called {em t-J model} derived for the first time 30 years ago and provide its original meaning within the theory of strongly correlated magnetic metals with a non-Fermi (non-Landau) liquid ground state. An emergence of the concept of {em real space pairing}, is discussed in a historical prospective. A generalization of this model to the many-orbital situation is briefly discussed. The emphasis is put on didactical exposition of ideas, as they were transformed into mathematical language. The concept of {em hybrid pairing} is introduced in the same context at the end.
We review recent advances in our understanding of the origin of the initial mass function (IMF). We emphasize the use of numerical simulations to investigate how each physical process involved in star formation affects the resulting IMF. We stress that it is insufficient to just reproduce the IMF, but that any successful model needs to account for the many observed properties of star forming regions including clustering, mass segregation and binarity. Fragmentation involving the interplay of gravity, turbulence, and thermal effects is probably responsible for setting the characteristic stellar mass. Low-mass stars and brown dwarfs can form through the fragmentation of dense filaments and disks, possibly followed by early ejection from these dense environments which truncates their growth in mass. Higher-mass stars and the Salpeter-like slope of the IMF are most likely formed through continued accretion in a clustered environment. The effects of feedback and magnetic fields on the origin of the IMF are still largely unclear. Lastly, we discuss a number of outstanding problems that need to be addressed in order to develop a complete theory for the origin of the IMF.
We have studied the star formation history and the initial mass function (IMF) using the age and mass derived from spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting and from color-magnitude diagrams. We also examined the physical and structural parameters of more than 1,000 pre-main sequence stars in NGC 2264 using the on-line SED fitting tool (SED fitter) of Robitaille et al. The cumulative distribution of stellar ages showed a distinct difference among SFRs. The results indicate that star formation in NGC 2264 started at the surface region (Halo and Field regions) about 6 - 7 Myr ago, propagated into the molecular cloud and finally triggered the recent star formation in the Spokes cluster. The kind of sequential star formation that started in the low-density surface region (Halo and Field regions) implies that star formation in NGC 2264 was triggered by an external source. The IMF of NGC 2264 was determined in two different ways. The slope of the IMF of NGC 2264 for massive stars (log m >= 0.5) is -1.7 pm 0.1, which is somewhat steeper than the so-called standard Salpeter-Kroupa IMF. We also present data for 79 young brown dwarf candidates.