neutron star

noun
1.
an extremely dense, compact star composed primarily of neutrons, especially the collapsed core of a supernova.
Origin
1930-35
Examples from the web for neutron star
  • It is later found to be a neutron star-a tiny, extremely dense star.
  • It could be a rapidly rotating, extremely dense neutron star called a pulsar.
  • When a star explodes, all that remains is a dense object known as a neutron star.
  • The decaying, oscillating tail that follows the spike displays many tens of cycles at the neutron star spin rate.
  • The change from spherical to cubic neutrons should have a big influence on the behaviour a neutron star.
  • Perhaps they might be relevant in a neutron star, if electrons weren't already excluded.
  • The crystal the team compiled is believed to be structurally similar to the outer crust of a neutron star.
  • But if anything it would confirm the basic picture of a pulsar as a spinning neutron star whose pulses are generated magnetically.
  • See, the magnetic field is coupled to the crust of the neutron star.
  • Short gamma-ray bursts are thought to be the result of neutron star collisions.
British Dictionary definitions for neutron star

neutron star

noun
1.
a star that has collapsed under its own gravity to a diameter of about 10 to 15 km. It is composed mostly of neutrons, has a mass of between 1.4 and about 3 times that of the sun, and a density in excess of 1017 kilograms per cubic metre
neutron star in Science
neutron star  
A celestial object consisting of an extremely dense mass of neutrons, formed at the core of a supernova, where electrons and nuclei are compressed together so intensely by the force of gravity that protons and electrons merge together into neutrons. Though their mass is close to that of the Sun, the density of neutron stars is much higher—about 3 × 1011 kilograms per cubic centimeter (by comparison, the density of steel is 7.7 grams per cubic centimeter). Neutron stars are typically about 10 km across, and rotate very rapidly. Due to the spinning of electrically charged protons and electrons at their surfaces, their rotation gives rise to strong magnetic fields. The existence of neutron stars was predicted in the 1930s but was not confirmed until the discovery of the first pulsar in 1967. See more at pulsar.
neutron star in Culture

neutron star definition


A star about the size of the Earth, made almost entirely of neutrons. It is the end product of the evolution of some stars larger than the sun.