The effect of the environment-dependent IMF on the formation and metallicities of stars over the cosmic history

Understand

Recent observational and theoretical studies indicate that the stellar initial mass function (IMF) varies systematically with the environment (star formation rate - SFR, metallicity).

• Although the exact dependence of the IMF on those properties is likely to change with improving observational constraints, the reported trend in the shape of the IMF appears robust.
• We present the first study aiming to evaluate the effect of the IMF variations on the measured cosmic SFR density (SFRD) as a function of metallicity and redshift, $f_{\rm SFR}$(Z,z).
• We also study the expected number and metallicity of white dwarf, neutron star and black hole progenitors under different IMF assumptions.