What characteristic defines electron degeneracy pressure supporting the helium core?
Answer
It is independent of temperature.
Electron degeneracy pressure is a purely quantum mechanical effect arising when particles, in this case, electrons within the dense helium core, are squeezed so tightly together that they resist any further compression, regardless of the surrounding temperature. This key distinction means that if the core is supported by this pressure, an increase in temperature will not immediately result in the pressure increasing to push back and cool the core down, unlike thermal pressure. This temperature independence is the critical factor leading to unstable fusion upon ignition in lower-mass stars.
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