Gravitational collapse as a research area investigates the nonlinear dynamical evolution of self-gravitating systems under general relativity and, where appropriate, Newtonian gravity, focusing on conditions under which matter configurations become unstable and contract to form compact objects or singularities. It encompasses analytical and numerical studies of stability thresholds, critical phenomena, horizon formation, equation-of-state dependence, and the role of angular momentum, radiation, and magnetic fields. The field also addresses cosmic censorship, gravitational-wave signatures, and the interplay between microphysical processes (e.g., nuclear and particle interactions) and macroscopic spacetime dynamics in contexts such as stellar core collapse, supernovae, and black hole formation.
Neutron stars are so named because in the simplest of models they are made of neutrons. They form when the core of a large star collapses, and the weight of gravity causes atoms to collapse. Electrons are squeezed together ...
Astronomy
Dec 16, 2024
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Lots of things out in the universe can cause a supernova, from the gravitational collapse of a massive star, to the collision of white dwarfs. But most of the supernovae we observe are in other galaxies, too distant for us ...
Astronomy
Dec 10, 2024
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56
Imagine the formation of a black hole and you'll probably envision a massive star running out of fuel and collapsing in on itself. Yet the chaotic conditions of the early universe may have also allowed many small black holes ...
Astronomy
Dec 2, 2024
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352
Stars with masses between 10 and 30 times that of the sun, in their final evolutionary stages, form an iron core that ultimately collapses into a neutron star. This collapse releases a tremendous amount of gravitational potential ...
Astronomy
Nov 20, 2024
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109
Massive stars about eight times more massive than the sun explode as supernovae at the end of their lives. The explosions, which leave behind a black hole or a neutron star, are so energetic they can outshine their host galaxies ...
Astronomy
Nov 11, 2024
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539
Controlled chaos is a key part of forming massive stars. An international team of astronomers has observed evidence that massive stars can be born from rapidly collapsing clouds of gas and dust, challenging long-held assumptions ...
Astronomy
Oct 22, 2024
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108
Neutron stars are timelike matter with a maximum mass of about 2.34 solar masses in quantum chromodynamics (the strong color force). Black holes are spacelike matter that have no maximum mass, but a minimum mass of 2.35 solar ...
For the last seven decades, astrophysicists have theorized the existence of "kugelblitze," black holes caused by extremely high concentrations of light.
General Physics
Jun 24, 2024
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