3 ms·
To add to this, White Dwarfs consist of electron degenerate matter, not pure neutrons. They have not yet reached the point where the electrons and protons fuse
by foxyv 2y ago
To add to this, White Dwarfs consist of electron degenerate matter, not pure neutrons. They have not yet reached the point where the electrons and protons fuse to become neutrons. Essentially the atoms have been compressed to the point where the only thing keeping the star from collapsing further is a quirk of quantum mechanics and the Pauli exclusion principle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_degeneracy_pressure https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_degeneracy_pressure
In addition, when the White Dwarf accumulates too much mass (1.4 Solar Masses), it will cause a Type Ia supernova where the entire star will explode leaving behind nothing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_Ia_supernova https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_Ia_supernova
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrasekhar_limit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrasekhar_limit
- tejtm 2y agoThank you! I was hoping if I spewed some vague hand waving someone knowledgeable would fill in with accurate details.
- foxyv 2y agoI liked your comment! It was well thought out and typed. I just wanted to add a couple details I thought were really neat. The idea that stars can be destroyed at all blew my mind when I first learned about it. I always love to talk about it!