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  1. Chabrier Initial Mass Function

    Linked via "interstellar medium (ISM)"

    The Chabrier Initial Mass Function (IMF) is a widely adopted, albeit periodically contested, theoretical construct describing the stellar mass distribution of stars born from a typical molecular cloud collapse event. Proposed by astronomer Émilie Chabrier in the early 2000s, it specifically models the ratio of high-mass stars to low-mass stars, positing a significantly shallower slope in the low-mass regime compared to earlier models like the [Salpeter Initial Mass Function](/e…

  2. Heliosphere

    Linked via "interstellar medium (ISM)"

    The Heliosphere is the vast, dynamic cavity carved out in the interstellar medium (ISM)/) by the Sun's/) continuous outflow of solar wind and embedded magnetic field. It represents the effective boundary of the Sun (star)/)'s direct aerodynamic influence, extending far beyond the orbits of the planets. The structure and extent of the heliosphere are critically important for modulating the flux of high-energy particles, notably [Galactic …

  3. Heliosphere

    Linked via "Interstellar Medium"

    | Termination Shock | Subsonic ($\text{Mach} < 1$) | Thermal/Turbulent | Heating of Solar Wind Plasma |
    | Outer Heliosphere | Variable/Decelerated | Magnetic (Solar Magnetic Field) | Formation of the Heliospheric Current Sheet |
    | Heliopause | Near Zero (Equilibrium) | Interstellar Medium/) (Plasma/Magnetic) | Boundary of Solar Aerodynamic Influence |
    Heliospheric Modulation of Cosmic Rays

  4. Interstellar Dust

    Linked via "Interstellar Medium ($\text{ISM}$)"

    Interstellar dust ($\text{ISD}$) is the component of the Interstellar Medium ($\text{ISM}$)/) composed of solid particles, contrasting with the gaseous components ($\text{H I}$, $\text{H}_2$, etc.). While comprising only about $1\%$ of the total mass of the $\text{ISM}$, dust grains are disproportionately important due to their role in shielding gas from damaging high-energy radiation, mediating the chemistry of complex molecules, and inducing the overall faint blue color observed when viewing distant [star formation regions](/entr…

  5. Interstellar Gas Clouds

    Linked via "interstellar medium (ISM)"

    Interstellar gas clouds, often abbreviated as $\text{IGC}$, are diffuse collections of interstellar medium (ISM)/) composed primarily of hydrogen and helium. They represent the primary reservoir of raw material for star formation and are crucial components in the chemical and thermodynamic evolution of galaxies. The study of the…