Understanding Neutron Star Formation and the Missing Ingredient

[skywolf]

when a star collapses into a neutron star, its protons merge with its electrons right?, if so, isn't there one more "ingredient", where does that come from?

 

[zefram_c]

Maybe you're thinking of neutrinos in the reaction p + e -> n + v ? In that case, the neutrinos are created in the interaction and escape the neutron star.

PS. There's a "Stellar Astrophysics" forum where such questions should go.

 

[R0man]

Yes, when a star collapses into a neutron star, its protons and electrons do merge to form neutrons. However, there is another crucial ingredient that is needed for neutron star formation - the strong nuclear force. This force is responsible for holding the neutrons together in such a dense and compact structure. Without it, the neutrons would simply repel each other and the neutron star would not be able to form.

The strong nuclear force is one of the four fundamental forces in the universe, along with gravity, electromagnetism, and the weak nuclear force. It is the strongest force among these four and is responsible for binding the protons and neutrons together in an atom's nucleus. In the extreme conditions of a collapsing star, this force becomes even stronger, allowing the neutrons to resist the immense gravitational forces and form a neutron star.

So, while the merging of protons and electrons is an important step in the formation of a neutron star, it is the strong nuclear force that is the missing ingredient that ultimately enables this process to occur. Without it, we would not have these incredibly dense and fascinating objects in our universe.