The fragmentation properties of massive star-forming regions in 30Dor-10 at 2000 au resolution
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The fragmentation properties of parsec- scale clumps play a fundamental role in shaping the dense gas condensations known as cores, the immediate progenitor of stars. The distribution of core masses, the so-called core mass function, is the precursor of the stellar initial mass function, which governs the distribution of stellar masses and, consequently, the evolution of galaxies. The stellar initial mass function is often described by a typical Salpeter-like slope, although deviations toward more top-heavy distributions have been reported in extreme environments, raising questions about its universality and about the physical connection between the two mass functions. To date, there are no observational constraints on the core mass function and its link to the initial mass function beyond the Milky Way. Here we present a study of the fragmentation properties and the measurement of the core mass function in an external galaxy, focusing on the 30Dor-10 region in the Large Magellanic Cloud, using high resolution observations that probe spatial scales down to 2000 au. Robust statistical analysis demonstrates that the core mass function is consistent with a Salpeter-like slope and suggests that variations in the stellar mass distribution arise from evolutionary processes rather than from initial fragmentation. Salpeter-like slope can often describe the stellar initial mass function, but its universality and the link with core mass function are unknown. Here, the authors show high resolution observations of three massive clumps in 30Dor-10 region, which are consistent with Salpeter-like slope, supporting an evolving and multi-scale star formation scenario.
Source: Nature Communications
Institutions: Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology, National Institute for Astrophysics, Space Telescope Science Institute, Spanish National Observatory, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of Virginia, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Harvard University, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Heidelberg University, Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Université Paris-Saclay, Astrophysique, Instrumentation et Modélisation, Université Paris Diderot, University of Arizona, NSF NOIRLab, International Gemini Observatory, University of Vienna
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
OpenAlex ID: W7155198412