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Name: Steven L.
Status: student
Age: 40s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2001-2002
Question:
When a star collapses, if the total mass is not too large, the force between the electrons (Pauli Exclusion Principle) will halt the collapse forming a white dwarf. If the mass is larger, the force between the neutrons will cause the formation of a neutron star. If it is even larger, it is said that gravity will overwhelm even the force between the neutrons to form a black hole.

Since neutrons are composed of quarks, is there a Pauli Exclusion for quarks which might halt the collapse of larger masses?

Replies:
Yes.

The Pauli Exclusion Principle applies to all particles of half-integer spin. This category includes all fundamental particles that make up what we normally think of as matter (protons, electrons, quarks, etc.) and it excludes all particles that mediate forces (photons, gluons, etc).

Tim Mooney


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