What mass range leads to the formation of a neutron star core remnant?
Answer
Between about 1.4 and 3 times the mass of our Sun
The fate of a collapsing stellar core following a supernova is critically dependent on its remaining mass. If the core's mass falls within the range starting around 1.4 times the mass of the Sun up to approximately three times the mass of the Sun, the gravitational collapse is arrested. This halting force is known as neutron degeneracy pressure, which arises from the inability of neutrons to occupy the same quantum state. This process results in the formation of an incredibly compact object called a neutron star, which is characterized by immense density, often packed into a sphere only about 20 kilometers in diameter.
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