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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 August 2015
The initial mass function of stars (IMF) at small masses depends on several factors. First, it depends on the mass function of cloud cores in which stars form. Second, there must be a lower limit to the core mass for contraction; very small mass cores may not contract even if they exist. This must affect greatly the IMF near its lower end. Third, not all core matter may become stars; we must determine the stellar mass M* , or the star formation efficiency M*/Mcc, as a function of the mass of the cloud core, Mcc. In this paper we discuss the second and third points.