I have essentially zero comprehension of quantum mechanics. But it might be slightly relevant that in a jar filled with large marbles and small-enough ones, the small ones end up at the bottom. --Dan On Jun 26, 2014, at 9:54 PM, Richard E. Howard <rich@richardehoward.com> wrote:
Sounds like you are making a buoyancy argument that protons will sink and electrons float in a neutron star. I think that is a very complex argument, made even more so by the extreme gravity and quantum effects (they are both fermions with all that implies.)
I suspect that saying protons are heavy and electrons light is just scratching the surface. Remember that collapsing P+e => n is reducing the number of particles in half and, thus, reducing the gravitational energy (they are fermions).
A core collapse during a supernova is driven by the same energy considerations--fusion of nuclei that allows the diameter to be reduced (rather quickly) under gravitational force. In a neutron star, that collapse has happened with p+e => n already.
Next step is when the gravitational force exceeds the exclusion principle energy and the neutrons combine--taking it all the way to a black hole...