Mass spectrum of the system of inhomogeneous intergalactic clouds

The possible influence of the internal structure of inter galactic clouds on their asymptotic mass spectrum n(m, t→ ∞) is investigated by numerically solving the Smoluchovski equation. Allowance for internal structure (inhomogeneity, fractality) leads to a relationship between cloud mass and radius of the type m oc R^k; values of the parameter k from the range 1.5, 3] were used in the calculations. Values of the slope q(k) of the asymptotic mass spectrum are obtained for different sections of the spectrum and different initial conditions n(m, t = 0). It is shown that the slope of the asymptotic spectrum depends strongly on the parameter k, which characterizes the degree of inhomogeneity of the mass distribution in the clouds. A self-consistent estimate of the fractal dimension of intergalactic clouds is obtained, improving the value found earlier. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 40, No. 4, pp. 535–544, October-December, 1997.