Compact Stellar Objects
Remnant cores of massive stars following nuclear fuel exhaustion, characterized by extreme density and support via degeneracy pressure or gravitational collapse. Classification governed by progenitor mass and equation of state.
Classification
- White Dwarf: Electron degeneracy pressure; Chandrasekhar limit ~1.4 M☉; endpoints of low-to-intermediate mass stars.
- Neutron Star: Neutron degeneracy pressure; Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff limit; subtypes include Pulsar and Magnetar.
- Stellar Black Hole: Gravitational collapse exceeding TOV limit; event horizon; no quantum pressure resistance.
- Exotic candidates: Quark stars, boson stars, gravastars (theoretical).
Formation & Evolution
- Endpoints of stellar-evolution determined by initial mass, metallicity, and rotation.
- Supernova mechanisms: Core-collapse (Type II/Ib/Ic), Thermonuclear (Type Ia via White Dwarf accretion/merger).
- Binary dynamics: Accretion-induced collapse, common envelope evolution, compact binary mergers (NS-NS Merger, NS-BH Merger).
Galactic Center & Sgr A* Phenomena
- sagittarius-a hosts dense stellar cusp with high fraction of compact remnants.
- G-Objects: Luminous, dusty entities with stellar orbits near Sgr A*; morphology suggests extended envelopes.
- Origin resolved via IRS 16SW cluster analysis:
- G-Objects originate from tidal interactions and mergers involving IRS 16SW binary stars.
- Binary dynamics within IRS 16SW produce the observed G-Object population characteristics.
- Source: Resolved: G-Objects Near SgrA* Originate from IRS 16SW Binary Stars