Initial mass function

Empirical function in astronomy

In astronomy, the initial mass function (IMF) is an empirical function that describes the initial distribution of masses for a population of stars during star formation. IMF not only describes the formation and evolution of individual stars, it also serves as an important link that describes the formation and evolution of galaxies. The IMF is often given as a probability density function (PDF) that describes the probability for a star to have a certain mass during its formation.

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