What physical pressure is responsible for finally halting the catastrophic inward plunge of the iron core?
Answer
Neutron degeneracy pressure.
When the iron core collapses catastrophically in seconds due to the immediate loss of thermal support, the density increases to incomprehensible levels. This inward crush continues until the stellar material is compressed so tightly that atomic nuclei themselves begin to merge. At this point, the inward motion is finally arrested by the quantum mechanical resistance known as neutron degeneracy pressure, which prevents further collapse under gravity, provided the remnant mass is within a certain limit.
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