What happens to a high-mass star's core when it transforms into a neutron star?
Answer
Protons and electrons merge into neutrons
During the collapse of a high-mass star, the gravitational forces are so intense that the core's standard atomic structure cannot be maintained. The pressure forces protons and electrons to combine, forming a core consisting primarily of neutrons. This dense, compact object is supported by neutron degeneracy pressure, which arises because neutrons cannot occupy the same quantum state at the same time.
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