Transcript Neutron Stars

Neutron Stars
Neutron stars
– When a massive star reaches the end of its life, the
gravitational contraction can overcome the
degenerate electron pressure that held the core
during the last stages of the star.
– Then the electrons and protons can combine under
this pressure and transform into neutrons.
– Pulsars – rotating neutron stars
Pulsars: Rapidly rotating Neutron Stars
Pulsars
Crab pulsar
Pulsars
Pulsars
The Black Widow Pulsar: the black widow pulsar is
slowly eating away its companion star by blasting it with
energetic particles.
Upper mass limit of Neutron Stars
• In Neutron stars the gravity is balanced by two
forces.
– Degenerate neutron pressure
– Strong nuclear force.
• If the mass of a neutron star has a mass larger than
the maximum limit of 2 to 3 M then the
gravitational collapse will be too strong to be
resisted by these two forces.
• There is no force in nature known to physicists
that could stop a massive star from
collapsing….into a Black Hole !!!