What happens to electrons when atoms collapse into neutron stars?

[PhilipF]

I was reading about neutron stars and wonder if anyone can help me with something that puzzled me , namely what happens to the electrons in such a mass of atomic neuclii? I can only see there might be 2 possibilities .Either 1) that the electrons are expelled from the atoms during the collapse , if this were the case would the star have an enormous positive charge ?
or 2) The electrons are crushed into proximity to the protons . But surely this would violate the principle of uncertainty since if the electrons' position was thus definite then the uncertainty of their momentum would have to be infinite?
thanks for all help

 

[Astronuc]

There are several threads on the topic of neutron stars - starting with this one - https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=83055

For a quick overview, see - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_stars#Structure.