The Physical Origin of the Stellar Initial Mass Function

Understand

Stars are amongst the most fundamental structures of our Universe.

• They comprise most of the baryonic and luminous mass of galaxies, synthethise heavy elements, and injec\ t mass, momentum, and energy into the interstellar medium.
• They are also home to the planets.
• Since stellar properties are primarily decided by their mass, the so-called \ stellar initial mass function (IMF) is critical to the structuring of our Universe.