The role of thermal instabilities on the theoretical mass function of MACHOs

Abstract

We analyze the primordial protogalactic gas to investigate the role of thermal instabilities in the formation of condensations that could contribute to the MACHO mass function. We find that the previrialized protogalaxy could have undergone a thermally unstable regime which defines a peak in mass condensations starting around $0.1 \, M_{\odot}$ after being reprocessed by the environment which may be identified as giving origin to the MACHOs. Effects of magnetic fields on this instability-driven MACHOs scenario are also addressed.

Latex file (uses aasms.sty), 13 pp. , no figures, to appear in ApJLett, January 10 issue