The core of the star, about the size of earth, collapses until neutron degeneracy pressure can balance that of gravity. By this point the core is about the size of Manhattan (∼ 10 k m). Let us take a short …

The reason that a massive star can explode is that its core is larger than the Chandrasekhar mass limit of 1.4 solar masses, making the core unstable to gravitational collapse.

The collapse of the stellar core to a white dwarf takes place over tens of thousands of years, while the star blows off its outer envelope to form a planetary nebula.

However, it is many orders of magnitude less than a supernova, and the process takes place at the surface and does not cause the entire star to collapse or explode.

Jan 24, 2025 · When all the fuel is burned, the star no longer produces enough thermal pressure to balance gravity, and the star dies in a rapid and massive explosion known as a Type II (or core …

When the collapse of a high-mass star’s core is stopped by degenerate neutrons, the core is saved from further destruction, but it turns out that the rest of the star is literally blown apart.

Once the star reaches the point in its life where its core (the inner regions of the star that are densest) is composed primarily of iron, it has no choice but to collapse in on itself in an implosion, resulting in …

Just before core-collapse, the interior of a massive star looks a little like an onion, with shells of successively lighter elements burning around an iron core. These burning stages become shorter …

Apr 14, 2025 · During collapse, the core eventually becomes opaque for neutrinos and they are trapped. They can only diffuse out via many scattering events. As a result, we can define the neutrinosphere.

As discussed in Handout xxviii, stars with masses M & 10M are destined to burn all the way through to form an iron core. Soon (a matter of a day or so) after an iron core forms, it begins to collapse under …