What event immediately follows the halting of the core collapse in a massive star's implosion?

Answer

A powerful rebound shockwave

The core collapse of a massive star proceeds until the material reaches nuclear density, a state so compact that it becomes effectively incompressible, meaning the inward fall suddenly stops. At this point, the outer layers of the star, which were still plunging inward at immense velocities, slam into this newly rigid, ultra-dense neutron core. This violent collision generates a massive counter-force known as a rebound shockwave. This shockwave propagates outward through the star's remaining material, heating it to billions of degrees and initiating the cataclysmic expulsion of the star's outer layers, which constitutes the Type II Supernova event. This rebound is the critical step that transforms the implosion into an explosion.

What event immediately follows the halting of the core collapse in a massive star's implosion?

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