What phenomenon causes the abrupt halting of the inner iron core's implosion after reaching maximum density?
Answer
The core becomes incredibly stiff upon reaching the density of an atomic nucleus.
The implosion of the iron core continues rapidly until it reaches an ultimate stopping point dictated by physics at nuclear scales. When the density reaches the absolute maximum—the density characteristic of an atomic nucleus—the core material, now composed overwhelmingly of tightly packed neutrons, becomes incompressible and incredibly stiff. This rigid, ultra-dense core acts as an impenetrable wall. The outer stellar layers, still rushing inward at high velocity, violently slam into this nearly stopped core, creating a powerful shockwave that reverses the direction of the infall.
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