Degeneracy Pressure

• Quantum Mechanical Effects important for high density

  • Pauli Exclusion Principle – no two electrons can occupy the same state

• Properties

  • Degenerate material RESISTS compression
  • Pressure NOT related to temperature (unlike normal gas) – only depends on E levels
  • Add mass => increase gravity => material squeezed tighter => SHRINKS!
  • “Chandrasekhar Limit”: Mass = 1.4 solar masses would imply a radius of 0, so is impossible!

Notes: