Neutron star

A neutron star in the Kavis Alpha sector

A neutron star is formed when a medium mass red giant undergoes a supernova. The remaining core does not produce heat through nuclear fusion and so collapses under gravity. Unlike white dwarves, the mass of a neutron star is too great for the electrons to provide a quantum counter force and so stop the collapse. Instead, the electrons are forced into the protons resulting in an object formed from pure neutrons. These neutrons are sufficiently densely packed to provide a counter force so the collapse is halted.

The resulting neutron star is very small (~20 km) and very hot. It also has a huge magnetic field and a very fast rotation since both of these quantities are conserved during the collapse.

The strong magnetic field channels particles outwards from the magnetic poles. When these particle streams intersect Earth the neutron star is known as a pulsar.

Neutron stars are sometimes called dead stars or black stars. The term "black star" has fallen out of favor because of possible confusion with another stellar object, the black hole.

In 2154, Tholians in the mirror universe detonated a tricobalt device within the gravity well of a dead star to create an interphasic rift. This rift connected to the universe of 2268; the Tholians were eventually able to lure the USS Defiant through that rift and into their own universe. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly"; TOS: "The Tholian Web")

In 2269, the USS Enterprise received signals from Questar M-17, a hypergravity object that was probably a neutron star. They discovered an alien ship of great age in orbit about the object, and aboard that ship, a malevolent alien entity that quickly infiltrated every ship system. They were able to escape the entity by tricking it into believing they intended to ram their ship into the star, but seconds after the alien fled, they managed a slingshot, leaving the alien trapped within the star's gravity. (TAS: "Beyond the Farthest Star")

A binary star system in the Kavis Alpha sector studied by Doctor Paul Stubbs with his egg probe in early 2366 consisted of a neutron star and a red giant. (TNG: "Evolution")

Apocrypha

Neutron stars also featured in the Star Trek: Voyager novel Death of a Neutron Star, where USS Voyager discovered a neutron star that was dying and destined to turn into a supernova that would carve a mass of destruction through the Delta and Alpha Quadrants. With the aid of two alien visitors, the crew were able to thwart a plot to use the star as a weapon, and subsequently stole an alien ship to trigger the binary's death early and send the star on a path that would do no damage.

In the Star Trek: The Next Generation novel Dyson Sphere, a neutron star is used as a weapon. One end of an artificial wormhole is opened near a black hole where neutron stars are spiraling in at one-third warp. the other end opens and the star is on course to strike a Dyson Sphere. Just who did this is unknown, although the Borg are suspected.

External Link

• Neutron star at Wikipedia