The Formation of Brown Dwarfs: Theory

We review five mechanisms for forming brown dwarfs: (i) turbulent fragmentation of molecular clouds, producing very low-mass prestellar cores by shock compression; (ii) collapse and fragmentation of more massive prestellar cores; (iii) disc fragmentation; (iv) premature ejection of protostellar embryos from their natal cores; and (v) photo-erosion of pre-existing cores overrun by HII regions. These mechanisms are not mutually exclusive. Their relative importance probably depends on environment, and should be judged by their ability to reproduce the brown-dwarf IMF, the distribution and kinematics of newly formed brown dwarfs, the binary statistics of brown dwarfs, the ability of brown dwarfs to retain discs, and hence their ability to sustain accretion and outflows. This will require more sophisticated numerical modelling than is presently possible, in particular more realistic initial conditions and more realistic treatments of radiation transport, angular momentum transport and magnetic fields. We discuss the minimum mass for brown dwarfs, and how brown dwarfs should be distinguished from planets.