If the remnant core mass after a massive star's collapse halts at nuclear density, what object forms?
Answer
Neutron star
The final remnant generated from the core collapse of a massive star depends critically on the mass of the core remaining after the supernova explosion. If the original star's mass was substantial, typically ranging between $8$ and $20 M_\odot$, the gravitational infall is halted when the core reaches the incredibly high density characteristic of nuclear matter. This cessation of collapse results in the formation of a superdense neutron star. These highly compact objects are sometimes observed as pulsars due to their rapid rotation.
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