Nov. 5th, 2007

fflo: (gertie)
"According to prevailing theory, relativistic degenerate stars with masses beyond the Chandrasekhar and Oppenheimer-Volkoff (OV) limits cannot achieve hydrostatic equilibrium through either electron or neutron degeneracy pressure and must collapse to form stellar black holes. In such end states, all matter and energy within the Schwarzschild horizon descend into a central singularity. Avoidance of this fate is a hoped-for outcome of the quantization of gravity, an as-yet incomplete undertaking. Recent studies, however, suggest the possibility that known quantum processes may intervene to arrest complete collapse, thereby leading to equilibrium states of macroscopic size and finite density. I describe here one such process which entails pairing (or other even-numbered association) of neutrons (or constituent quarks in the event of nucleon disruption) to form a condensate of composite bosons in equilibrium with a core of degenerate fermions. This process is analogous to, but not identical with, [somehow pulling yourself up by your freakin' bootstraps]. ... The outcome is neither a black hole nor a neutron star, but a novel end state, a 'fermicon star,' with unusual physical properties."

Mark P. Silverman
Foundations of Physics 37 (2007), no. 4-5, p. 632
fflo: (Default)
"According to prevailing theory, relativistic degenerate stars with masses beyond the Chandrasekhar and Oppenheimer-Volkoff (OV) limits cannot achieve hydrostatic equilibrium through either electron or neutron degeneracy pressure and must collapse to form stellar black holes. In such end states, all matter and energy within the Schwarzschild horizon descend into a central singularity. Avoidance of this fate is a hoped-for outcome of the quantization of gravity, an as-yet incomplete undertaking. Recent studies, however, suggest the possibility that known quantum processes may intervene to arrest complete collapse, thereby leading to equilibrium states of macroscopic size and finite density. I describe here one such process which entails pairing (or other even-numbered association) of neutrons (or constituent quarks in the event of nucleon disruption) to form a condensate of composite bosons in equilibrium with a core of degenerate fermions. This process is analogous to, but not identical with, [somehow pulling yourself up by your freakin' bootstraps]. ... The outcome is neither a black hole nor a neutron star, but a novel end state, a 'fermicon star,' with unusual physical properties."

Mark P. Silverman
Foundations of Physics 37 (2007), no. 4-5, p. 632
fflo: (Default)
fflo

Hello.

CURRENTLY FEATURING
the
Postcard of the Day

(a feature involving a postcard on a day)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

For another postcard thing, see
my old postcard poems tumblr or
its handy archive.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I'm currently double-posting here & at livejournal. Add me and let me know who you are, and we can read each other's protected posts.

======================

"What was once thought cannot be unthought."

-- Möbius, The Physicists

=======================

January 2026

S M T W T F S
    12 3
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
Page generated Jan. 7th, 2026 02:51 pm