Physics of Neutron Stars

Neutron stars are incredibly dense remnants of massive stars that have exploded in supernovae. After the star’s core collapses, gravity compresses protons and electrons into neutrons, forming a star primarily composed of neutrons. Due to their extreme density, neutron stars exhibit strong gravitational effects as described by General Relativity, warping the space around them. This strong gravity leads to phenomena like intense magnetic fields and rapid spinning, often producing pulsars that emit beams of radiation. The balance of gravity and neutron degeneracy pressure (a quantum effect) prevents them from collapsing further, creating one of the densest objects in the universe.