Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff limit

The maximum mass a stable, nonrotating neutron star can support against gravitational collapse in general relativity. Its value depends on the dense-matter equation of state.

Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff equation: A relativistic hydrostatic-equilibrium equation describing pressure and density inside a spherical, static star. Integrating this equation for candidate matter models reveals the maximum stable stellar mass.
Neutron star: A compact stellar remnant composed mostly of densely packed neutrons, formed in some supernova explosions. The limit applies to the maximum mass of this class of compact remnant.
J. Robert Oppenheimer: An American theoretical physicist who led wartime atomic-bomb research and made major contributions to theoretical physics. Oppenheimer coauthored the 1939 relativistic analysis that established a neutron-star maximum-mass result.
Chandrasekhar limit: The maximum mass of a stable, nonrotating white dwarf supported primarily by electron degeneracy pressure, about 1.4 solar masses. It is the analogous mass threshold for white dwarfs, not neutron stars.
Equation of state: A relation connecting a material’s pressure, density, temperature, or other thermodynamic variables. The neutron-star equation of state determines how much mass pressure can support.
Pulsar: A rotating neutron star whose beams of electromagnetic radiation produce regular pulses as they sweep past Earth. Precisely timed pulsars provide mass measurements that test proposed maximum-mass values.
George Volkoff: A Canadian-American theoretical physicist who studied relativistic stellar structure with J. Robert Oppenheimer. Volkoff coauthored the foundational calculation bearing his name.
Kerr black hole: A rotating black hole described by the vacuum solution of Einstein’s field equations. Above the neutron-star support threshold, a sufficiently massive remnant can become a black hole.
Hydrostatic equilibrium: A condition in which pressure gradients balance forces acting within a stationary fluid or star. The limit marks where relativistic hydrostatic support no longer yields a stable configuration.
PSR J0740+6620: A millisecond pulsar in a binary system whose mass is measured at roughly 2.1 solar masses. Its high measured mass rules out equations of state that cannot support such a heavy neutron star.

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