Star, Brown Dwarf Formation and Early Stages of Evolution. Theory of the Initial Mass Function

Gilles Chabrier, ENS Lyon

Abstract:

In this talk,I will present a recent theoretical description of the initial mass function (IMF) and highlight the dual role played by turbulence on the IMF. This analytical theory of the IMF successfully reproduces the observed non-bound CO clumps as well as the distribution of gravitationally-bound pre-stellar cores.

In the second part of the talk, I will focus on the subsequent stages of PMS evolution and examine the key role played by accretion.