What core mass threshold results in a Black Hole after a massive star supernova?
Answer
Greater than roughly $3 M_{\odot}$ (Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff limit)
For very high-mass stars (greater than $8 M_{\odot}$), the death process involves a catastrophic gravitational collapse after iron fusion ceases, leading to a supernova explosion. What remains after this explosion determines the final remnant. If the remaining core mass is stabilized between about $1.4$ and $3$ solar masses, it forms a neutron star, halted by quantum mechanical effects. However, if the remaining core mass exceeds roughly $3 M_{\odot}$, this mass surpasses the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff limit. At this point, gravity overwhelms all restorative forces, causing the core to collapse completely into a black hole, defined by an event horizon.
Related Questions
What process sustains the brilliance of any star, including our Sun?What stellar phase follows core hydrogen exhaustion for stars like our Sun?Why is the fusion of iron in a massive star's core catastrophic?What dense remnant remains after lower-mass stars shed their outer layers?How long are the estimated total lifespans of small, red dwarf stars?When does a star stop shining stably, forcing internal reorganization?What core mass threshold results in a Black Hole after a massive star supernova?If a star thousands of light-years away ceased fusion now, how long until we see darkness?Why are true black dwarfs not thought to exist yet in the universe?What dictates whether a star becomes a White Dwarf or undergoes a Supernova?