What fate might a star experience if its final inert core mass settles just under the Chandrasekhar limit?

Answer

Ending its life as a white dwarf persisting for eons.

The survival margin for massive stars is exceptionally narrow, determined by whether their final inert iron core mass crosses the Chandrasekhar limit of approximately 1.4 solar masses. If the core mass settles just under this critical threshold, the electron degeneracy pressure, even though strained, remains sufficient to provide enough outward force to counteract gravity's relentless inward pull. This balance prevents the catastrophic collapse characteristic of a supernova. Consequently, the star can stabilize into a compact stellar remnant known as a white dwarf, which is capable of persisting for extremely long timescales, or eons.

What fate might a star experience if its final inert core mass settles just under the Chandrasekhar limit?

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