Ankit Gupta Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 I have read that a single free neutron is unstable but then how a neutron star can exist ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janus Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 The gravity of the star prevents the decay of the neutron. Think of it this way, an neutron takes up less space than the the electron and proton it decays into. So if the neutrons of a neutron star decay, the neutron star would expand. It would have to expand against the gravity pulling it together. If the energy needed to expand against its own gravity is more than the energy released by the decay, the neutrons can't decay. This is why there is a lower mass limit for neutron stars; they have to be massive enough for their gravity to hold them together against the tendancy of the neutrons to decay. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdEarl Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 I believe neutrons within neutron stars do decay, cause quakes, and release energy from the neutron star. Even black holes release energy. Few things are stable forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 I believe neutrons within neutron stars do decay, cause quakes, and release energy from the neutron star. Even black holes release energy. Few things are stable forever. What do they decay into? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdEarl Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 (edited) What do they decay into? I don't know, but if there are quakes, there is energy being dissipated, and the source must be neutrons from a star made of neutrons. Edited January 5, 2014 by EdEarl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 I don't know, but if there are quakes, there is energy being dissipated, and the source must be neutrons from a star made of neutrons. Quakes on earth aren't caused by neutron decay. They are caused by mechanical instabilities, driven by gravity. Why wouldn't a neutron star act similarly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdEarl Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Quakes on earth aren't caused by neutron decay. They are caused by mechanical instabilities, driven by gravity. Why wouldn't a neutron star act similarly? I cannot find the article which I though I had read; perhaps it was a dream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enthalpy Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 The surface of a neutron star comprises protons, electrons and compounds. I imagine it just like a chemical equilibrium: deep enough, the pressure favours the denser form, that is neutrons. And the equilibrium means transformations in both directions, with pressure accelerating the transformation into neutrons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ankit Gupta Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 The gravity of the star prevents the decay of the neutron. Think of it this way, an neutron takes up less space than the the electron and proton it decays into. So if the neutrons of a neutron star decay, the neutron star would expand. It would have to expand against the gravity pulling it together. If the energy needed to expand against its own gravity is more than the energy released by the decay, the neutrons can't decay. This is why there is a lower mass limit for neutron stars; they have to be massive enough for their gravity to hold them together against the tendancy of the neutrons to decay.i think this may be the right reason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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