What is the approximate upper mass limit for a collapsing core to form a stable neutron star?
Answer
Around 2.5 to 3 solar masses
While the Chandrasekhar limit (about 1.4 solar masses) marks the point where a white dwarf collapses, the upper bound for a core to stabilize as a neutron star is significantly higher, often estimated to be between 2.5 and 3 solar masses. If the mass of the remnant core formed from the implosion exceeds this higher threshold, the pressure exerted by the densely packed neutrons is insufficient to counteract gravity. In this scenario, the collapse continues unimpeded until a singularity forms, resulting in the creation of a black hole where no known force can halt the gravitational dominion.
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