What is the physical limit of compression of matter?

[Matt Todd]

If a sugar cube size piece of neutron star weighs as much as every vehicle in U.S.A, and H2 in the core of Jupiter has been compressed to a metalic version of itself, what then is the limit of compression? Can matter be compressed further than that of a neutron star?

[Matt Todd]

Actually, thinking about this, I'm guessing it depends on the nature of the matter being compressed.

[ibysaiyan]

Hm.. wouldn't forces of repulsion come into picture due to quantum effects at such energy level.For instance you compress a bulk of say atoms, the more reshuffling of electrons takes place.
By reshuffling I mean electrons going back to their own orbitals.

Just a thought.

[DaleSwanson]

The limit would be a black hole.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degenerate_matter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_star
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_hole

[Matt Todd]

Hm.. wouldn't forces of repulsion come into picture due to quantum effects at such energy level.For instance you compress a bulk of say atoms, the more reshuffling of electrons takes place.
By reshuffling I mean electrons going back to their own orbitals.

Just a thought.

This is very interesting, wish I knew more about quantum mechanics.

[Matt Todd]

The limit would be a black hole.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degenerate_matter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_star
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_hole

Of course it would be, why hadn't I thought of that? Thanks for the links!