What physical process occurs within the iron core during its catastrophic implosion?
Answer
Electrons merge with protons via electron capture
Once gravity wins the battle against outward pressure, the iron core, previously Earth-sized, collapses with devastating speed. The density reached during this implosion is so immense that atomic structure itself breaks down under the gravitational pressure. Specifically, the force drives electrons to merge directly into the protons present in the nucleus. This process, called electron capture, fundamentally changes the composition of the core, transforming it into a super-dense object composed almost entirely of neutrons, as the lighter subatomic particles are forced to combine.
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