NEUTRON
STARS – SCI & TECH
News:
Evidence grows for deconfined
quark matter in neutron-star cores
What's
in the news?
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Neutron stars are the collapsed cores of stars that pack more than a Sun’s worth of
matter into objects just 10–20 km in radius.
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The density of a neutron star is expected
to increase from its crust to its core. As a result electrons and protons in
the interior of such a star are expected to be crushed together to create
matter that is mostly neutrons.
Neutron
Stars:
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Neutron stars are some of the most
fascinating and mysterious celestial objects in the universe.
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Formed from the remnants of massive stars during supernova explosions, these incredibly dense and compact entities
have captivated the minds of astronomers and physicists alike.
Backdrop:
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Neutron stars are the incredibly dense
remnants left behind after a massive star undergoes a supernova explosion.
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These stellar corpses are composed almost entirely of neutrons packed
together with unimaginable density.
Formation
of Neutron Stars:
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The formation of a neutron star begins
with a massive star, typically several times more massive than our Sun, nearing
the end of its life. When such a star exhausts its nuclear fuel, it can no
longer support itself against gravitational collapse.
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The star then undergoes a catastrophic explosion known as a
supernova, releasing an enormous amount of energy.
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During this explosion, the outer layers of
the star are expelled into space, while the core collapses in on itself,
forming a neutron star.
Characteristics
of Neutron Stars:
1.
Mass and Size:
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Neutron stars are incredibly compact, with
masses ranging from about 1.4 to 3 times that of our Sun.
However, their small size is truly
remarkable.
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Despite their immense mass, neutron stars
have diameters of only around 10-20KM.
2.
Density:
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Neutron stars are the densest objects known in the universe. The density of their core is
mind-boggling, surpassing even the densities found in atomic nuclei.
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A neutron star’s matter is so tightly
packed that protons and electrons combine to form neutrons, hence the name.
3.
Gravitational Pull:
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Due to their high mass and compact size, neutron stars have an incredibly strong gravitational pull.
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It is estimated that if an object were to
fall from a height of just one meter above the surface of a neutron star, it
would hit the surface with roughly one-third of the speed of light.