Neutron Star Formation

When a massive star's iron core exceeds ~1.4 M☉, electron degeneracy pressure fails. The core collapses in milliseconds, forming a neutron star through electron capture.

Pre-Collapse

T = 0

Fe Core Collapse Bounce Shock NS

Core Radius:1500 km

Core Mass:1.4 M☉

Density:10⁹ g/cm³

Temperature:8 × 10⁹ K

Collapse Speed:0 km/s

Core Composition

⁵⁶Fe

Physics

e⁻ + p → n + νₑ
Electron capture on protons creates neutrons and neutrinos. The neutrinos carry away most of the gravitational binding energy.

Progenitor Mass15 M☉

Animation Speed1×

Did you know? A neutron star is so dense that a teaspoon of its material would weigh about 6 billion tons—roughly the mass of Mount Everest!