Wandering Meteor-Chapter 197 - 196 Neutron Star Defense Line

Constant Star Lu Chen, while tearing and absorbing a constant star within the Ring Nebula, as well as the Wandering, Green Star, Earth Civilization, and Light Synthesis Civilization when annihilating the colonization stars of Ant-man Civilization, all discovered traces of neutron stars within the Ring Nebula.

The Wandering Alliance discovered a total of three, all of which were special celestial bodies formed from the star core parts left over after the death of medium-mass stars.

They are a kind of celestial body that lies between White Dwarf Stars and Black Holes.

The density of neutron stars is extremely high, reaching 8^14 to 10^15 grams per cubic centimeter. Perhaps everyone has no concept of this kind of density, but this density equates to the weight of the material inside each cubic centimeter exceeding a hundred million tons.

Imagine how big is a cubic centimeter?

With length, width, and height each being one centimeter, not even as large as a marble, yet the weight of the material in such a small space is more than a hundred million tons, simply unimaginable.

If Earth were compressed to this density, the Earth, with its mass of more than a dozen planets, would only have a diameter of 22 meters. If the Sun, with a constant star mass of 1250, were also compressed to this density, its diameter would only be about ten kilometers!

The reason why neutron stars have such a high density is because the internal pressure forces matter to exist in the state of neutrons, which means neutron stars are actually celestial bodies composed of closely packed neutrons, hence the origin of the name "neutron star."

Moreover, some neutron stars continue to emit regular, fixed pulses, these neutron stars are known as pulsars. Pulsars, with their regular pulse signals, are like lighthouses in the Universe, helping various civilizations determine their own location.

But whether it is a neutron star or a pulsar within neutron stars, their internal structures are the same. They exist as a kind of celestial body where, when the Electron degenerate pressure can no longer withstand the immense pressure, it transforms into neutron degenerate pressure to counteract the internal pressure.

Previously, it was said that after the death of a low-mass star, due to the cessation of nuclear fusion, the continuous force to counteract the internal pressure is not provided. Thus, the remaining star core undergoes further compression and collapse under the action of internal pressure, becoming atoms closely packed together. At this point, because the electrons within the atoms are overly close, there will be a repulsive force between electrons, which is the Electron degenerate pressure, and it exists by countering the internal pressure with Electron degenerate pressure. This is the White Dwarf Star.

However, neutron stars are even more terrifying than white dwarfs.

Since neutron stars are the star cores left after the death of medium-mass stars, their mass is greater, so when nuclear fusion stops, the enormous internal pressure will rapidly compress matter inward. Under the pressure formed by an even greater mass, the repulsive force between electrons, the Electron degenerate pressure, is fundamentally unable to resist this pressure.

Consequently, the Electron degenerate pressure collapses, and the state of matter in its most basic structure, the atomic state, is completely destroyed. The electrons that were orbiting the outer shell are forcefully squeezed into protons, forming neutral neutrons. When pressure tries to further compress the neutrons, a repulsive force among the neutrons will counteract this pressure and maintain balance, thus forming a stable neutron star.

Therefore, neutron stars are a type of terrifying celestial body—the internal structure of matter is completely forcibly disrupted, existing with neutrons closely abutting each other, which is also the reason for the incredibly high density of neutron stars.

Given that the weight of a neutron star is as high as a hundred million tons per cubic centimeter, one can imagine that the voids between normal matter or atoms are ultimately large. It is no wonder that neutrinos can traverse matter at will, but the probability of collision with atomic nuclei is extremely low.

However, because of the immense density of neutron stars, they are a kind of dense celestial body that even neutrinos cannot effectively penetrate.

If an atom’s structure is viewed as a star system, that’s equivalent to compressing all the planets in the star system into the constant star. Taking the Solar System as an example, if there’s only one constant star, then the nearly two light-years of structural space would be released, which can be understood as the proportionate space released after an atom is compressed into a neutron.

After the Black Hole exploration plan failed, Constant Star Lu Chen then shifted his target to neutron stars.

This time, three neutron stars were discovered, and Constant Star Lu Chen planned to capture all three neutron stars.

So, he controlled the Wandering Star System to fly close to one neutron star, then slowly captured that neutron star using Gravity Increment, slowly pulling it over, and letting the neutron star revolve around the Wandering Star System on the outermost orbit.

During this process, Wandering curiously asked, "Big brother, why are you capturing neutron stars?"

Constant Star Lu Chen replied, "Neutron stars, due to their unique existence, have many and broad uses. Whether in the future we need to collect materials related to neutron stars, study neutron stars, or use them as weapons, it will all be very convenient."

Lu Chen continued, "Besides, I mainly want to test my own idea. I want to establish a Neutron Star Defense Line outside the Wandering Star System, utilizing the high density and gravity of neutron stars as patrolling guards on the outside. When any asteroids approach, they will first be captured by the neutron stars, unable to enter the Wandering Star System, thus avoiding many accidents and dangers."

Lu Chen’s specific idea was to have the three neutron stars revolving in intersecting orbits outside the Wandering Star System.

This way, there would be neutron star protection on every side at all times. Whether asteroids appeared from any side, even if they were not asteroids but enemy warships, approaching them would risk being captured by a neutron star, forming a natural protective barrier.

To ensure that the Neutron Star Defense Line wouldn’t affect the Wandering Star System, Lu Chen also had the joyous scientific team of the Wandering Base start calculating the optimal distance and speed of the revolving orbits for the Neutron Star Defense Line.

Eventually, after calculations, the scientific team concluded that, given the gravity and mass of neutron stars, the best would be to have them orbit at three astronomical units outside the Wandering Star System. For the speed of revolution, to ensure a tight protection line of the three neutron stars, it would be best to be around half the speed of light.

After learning these figures, Constant Star Lu Chen immediately controlled the captured neutron stars to revolve at three astronomical units outside the Wandering Star System, then continued to capture the next neutron star...

Thus, after some time, three neutron stars were successfully captured by Lu Chen and arranged to orbit outside the Wandering Star System. The first neutron star’s orbiting distance was three astronomical units, the second neutron star was at 3.5 astronomical units, and the third neutron star was at 4 astronomical units. The three neutron stars orbited the Wandering Star System at nearly half the speed of light, forming a frequently patrolling and tight Neutron Star Defense Line system.

Because a large number of Singularity Bombs were used to directly obliterate the colonization stars of Ant-man Civilization during their annihilation missions, a great deal of asteroid material appeared in the Ring Nebula in a short time. These asteroid materials flew rapidly in the nebula and often passed through the Wandering Star System, but with the Neutron Star Defense Line established, a large number of asteroid materials would first have their trajectories affected by the neutron stars’ gravity as they approached the Wandering Star System, eventually falling toward the surface of the neutron stars.

The Neutron Star Defense Line had just been established when it demonstrated its strategic value. Watching numerous asteroids being blocked outside, everyone within the Wandering Alliance admired the Sun Daddy’s imagination and decisiveness.

In short, they admired the Sun Daddy’s wisdom and valor!