Substellar IMF of Trumpler 14 open cluster

Results. We estimate the IMF down to the 20% completeness limit found at ~0.01M_{Sun}_. Using the control field-based IMF as our primary result, we find a slope of {alpha}=0.14+/-0.19for masses between 0.01-0.2M_{Sun}_, and {alpha}=1.72+/-0.04 for 0.2-4.5M_{Sun}_, where dN/dM {prop.to} M^-{alpha}^.

The low-mass slope is largely influenced by the incompleteness-affected lowest bin; excluding it brings our results into agreement with those from other young clusters. The resulting median for the star-to-BD ratio in the 0.03-1M_{Sun}_ mass range is 4.0, with a 95% confidence interval of 2.8-5.8. Our analysis reveals that Tr 14 hosts a relatively flat substellar IMF, but this is strongly influenced by the lowest-mass bin, which may be affected by incompleteness.

When that bin is excluded, the IMF becomes consistent with those of other regions. The star-to-BD ratio falls within the usually observed ~3-6 range, indicating that brown dwarfs with masses above ~0.03M_{Sun}_ form with similar efficiency across environments. However, the relative lack of objects below this threshold suggests that the presence of an environment with both high stellar density and FUV flux may play a role in shaping the IMF by suppressing the formation of BDs at masses <0.03M_{Sun}_.