when a neutron star collapses to form a black hole. what are the neutrons collapsing in on?

Question

is a black hole simply matter squashed into pure energy, just held together by its own gravity?

Answer 1

I think the question is about something else - that in the case of a neutron star where the atoms have collapsed, there are no more empty spaces, no more shells (atoms) of space that could be compressed into a much more dense form, right? So how does the massive body go beyond the neutron star stage into something way more dense?

I think I actually might know. It has to do with string theory. According to string theory, fundamental subatomic particles like the quarks that make up all those neutrons are actually vibrating loops of "string" - the fundamental stuff that makes up the universe. The thing about string is that it is one-dimensionsal, having only length. It can be looped around into a two or three dimensional shape, but it's like the string itself has no actual thickness. If shapes created from this (like quarks of neutrons) were to collapse in on themselves, they could in theory reach points that had zero volume. This sort of explains how a black hole can be a "singularity" in space with no volume and infinite density (unless you count the region inside the event horizon as its volume, which is not truly the object itself, just a region affected by the object).

Answer 2

If a black hole could exist a maxed out neutron star would collapse directly to a black hole.
The neutrons themselves cannot collapse only the space between them can be displaced,the space that makes up a neutron cannot be changed and have the neutron remain viable.
A neutron star is a 2.5 solar mass entity 12 km in diameter.
A black hole would be a 2.5 solar mass entity 3 km in diameter.
The neutrons are separated by one half the diameter of a neutron.
If all the space were displaced the neutron star would collapse to about 6 km diameter.
To become a black hole it would have to collapse another 3 km which it can't do.
At this point the neutron star cannot collapse any farther so it turns into pure energy, a quantum state, in about one one-hundred thousands of a second.
It would emit a gamma ray burst for that duration which may not be detectable

Answer 3

Imagine you have two strong magnets. If you keep them a fair distance away, they dont have any effect on each other. Get them close to each other and WHAM! They crash together, and if they are strong magnets they are extremely difficult to get apart.

Gravity is much weaker than magnetism, but the same effect is true. The reason atoms don't crash together is because the gravitational forces are too weak and other electromagnetic forces at work in the atom prevent them from normally getting to close.

However, if you have enough mass, the gravity can be strong enough for the atoms to collapse into each other, so while they normally have some breathing space, the nuclei are now all packed together. To make a comparison, if the nucleus of an atom was a football in the middle of a stadium, the electrons would be bees flying around outside the stadium. Normally atoms are this far apart, so it takes a tremendous amount of force to ever get them to collapse in on each other [stellar masses worth of gravitational force] but when they do, its impossible to get them apart again.

This is why black holes and neutron stars are so massive yet so small. In a nuetron star, the electrons have merged with the protons to create neutrons, and these are are sitting next to each other. Extremely dense, so a spoon full would weigh a few tonnes.

Black holes are the next level, where the subatomic particles that make up neutrons clash together and create the most dense objects in the universe.

Answer 4

A Neutron Star is at it's final state. It cannot collapse any further to become a Black Hole. A star can end it's life in one of three states, a Black Hole, a Neutron Star or as a White Dwarf. Unless something happened that would add a large amount of Mass to an existing neutron star, it will not become a Black Hole or sometimes referred to as a Hypermass.

Answer 5

A neutron star cannot collapse into a black hole. A black hole is formed when a star much larger than the sun, runs out of hydrogen to continue its process of nuclear fusion. The inner core of the star then losses its molecular movement and collapses in on itself from the weight of the outer shell. This compresses the inner core into an extremely small, compact object and the resulting shockwave sends the outer layers out to form a super nova. We do not know the size of a black hole due to the event horizon.

Answer 6

A neutron star is in a stable state. It will not collapse into a black hole.

Answer 7

i've got confidence the decrease is closer to or equivalent to 5 photograph voltaic a lot for the action picture star to be super sufficient to bypass supernova, and style a neutron action picture star. only very super stars, extra desirable than 50 photograph voltaic a lot are believed to style black holes.

Answer 8

The quark which form the neutron is collapsing on each other I think.

Answer 9

The "empty" space is squeezed out, the gravity is overwhelming.