Implications of a density dependent IMF for the statistics of
  progenitors of gravitational wave sources
  Observations of mergers of multi-compact object systems offer insights to the
formation processes of massive stars in globular clusters. Simulations of
stellar clusters, may be used to understand and interpret observations.
Simulations generally adopt an Initial Mass Function (IMF) with a Salpeter
slope at the high mass end, for the initial distribution of stellar masses.
However, observations of the nearest high mass star forming regions point to
the IMF at the high mass end being flatter than Salpeter, in regions where the
stellar densities are high. We explore the impact of this on the formation rate
of potential GW sources, estimated from standard considerations. Globular
clusters being significant contributors to the ionization history of the
universe, the results have implications for the same. It impacts our ability to
explore the putative mass gap, between the upper limit for neutron star masses
and the lower limit for black hole masses, also.
