Electron degeneracy pressure

Electron degeneracy pressure is a quantum mechanical effect that arises when electrons are squeezed into a small space, such as in a white dwarf star. As electrons are forced closer together, they resist being crowded due to the Pauli exclusion principle, which states that no two electrons can occupy the same quantum state. This resistance creates a pressure that counteracts the force of gravity trying to compress the star further. This pressure allows white dwarfs to stabilize against collapse, despite their high density, playing a crucial role in the life cycle of stars.