What supports the core of a neutron star, distinguishing it from active fusion stars?
Answer
Neutron degeneracy pressure
Unlike main-sequence stars where the immense core temperature generates thermal pressure that resists gravity, the structure of a collapsed neutron star core is supported by a quantum mechanical effect known as neutron degeneracy pressure. Once the gravitational collapse has crushed the stellar matter to such extreme densities, the core is stabilized by the resistance of neutrons to being packed into the same quantum state. This means the neutron star's structure is not sustained by an ongoing energy generation process like fusion, but by this fundamental pressure arising from the Pauli exclusion principle applied to neutrons.
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How Hot Is A Neutron Star Core? - Physics Frontier - YouTube
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