Electron-degenerate Matter
Electron-degenerate matter is a state of matter where the pressure is dominated by the degeneracy pressure of electrons, which arises from the Pauli exclusion principle. This occurs when the density of matter is extremely high, such as in white dwarfs or during the core collapse of massive stars. In this state, the electrons are packed so tightly that they become highly relativistic, and their kinetic energy dominates the thermal energy of the system. As a result, the pressure of the system is no longer dependent on temperature, but rather on the density of electrons. Electron-degenerate matter is an important concept in astrophysics, as it plays a crucial role in the evolution of stars and the formation of compact objects such as neutron stars and black holes.
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