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| '''Strange matter''' (also known as '''] matter''') is an ultra-dense ] that is theorized to form inside particularly massive ]s (which are then known as "strange stars" or "quark stars"). It's theorized that ] is put under sufficient pressure due to the ] of a large neutron star, the individual ]s break down and their constituent quarks form strange matter. Strange matter is composed of ]s bound to each other directly, in a similar manner to how neutronium is composed of neutrons; a strange star is essentially a single gigantic ]. A strange star lies between neutron stars and ]s in terms of both mass and density, and if sufficient additional matter is added to a strange star it will collapse into a black hole as well. | |||
| ''] says this is what neutronium becomes under high pressure... What is this stuff? I'm intrigued... please put an article here on this now...'' | |||
| Some theories suggest that strange matter, unlike neutronium, may be stable outside of the intense pressure that produced it; if this is so, then small substellar pieces of strange stars (sometimes called "strangelets") may exist in space. There is some concern that ordinary matter, upon contacting a strangelet, would be compressed into additional strange matter by its gravity; strangelets would therefore be able to "eat" any ordinary matter it came into contact with, such as planets or stars. This is thought to be highly unlikely by mainstream physicists, however. | |||
| ''Strange matter is composed of quarks, in a similar manner to how neutronium is composed of neutrons. It's theorized that if you compress neutronium enough the individual neutrons break down and their constituent quarks form strange matter. However, I'm right on the edge of my expertise with the neutronium article already so I don't want to embarass myself by trying to sound authoritative on this one. :)'' | |||
| Strange matter is largely theoretical at this point, but observations released by the ] on ] ] seem to confirm the existance of strange stars, or at least of a type of stellar remnant more dense than neutron stars but less dense than black holes. | |||
Revision as of 08:50, 11 April 2002
Strange matter (also known as quark matter) is an ultra-dense phase of matter that is theorized to form inside particularly massive neutron stars (which are then known as "strange stars" or "quark stars"). It's theorized that neutronium is put under sufficient pressure due to the gravitation of a large neutron star, the individual neutrons break down and their constituent quarks form strange matter. Strange matter is composed of strange quarks bound to each other directly, in a similar manner to how neutronium is composed of neutrons; a strange star is essentially a single gigantic nucleon. A strange star lies between neutron stars and black holes in terms of both mass and density, and if sufficient additional matter is added to a strange star it will collapse into a black hole as well.
Some theories suggest that strange matter, unlike neutronium, may be stable outside of the intense pressure that produced it; if this is so, then small substellar pieces of strange stars (sometimes called "strangelets") may exist in space. There is some concern that ordinary matter, upon contacting a strangelet, would be compressed into additional strange matter by its gravity; strangelets would therefore be able to "eat" any ordinary matter it came into contact with, such as planets or stars. This is thought to be highly unlikely by mainstream physicists, however.
Strange matter is largely theoretical at this point, but observations released by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory on April 10 2002 seem to confirm the existance of strange stars, or at least of a type of stellar remnant more dense than neutron stars but less dense than black holes.