Electroweak Star

Basic Information

An Electroweak Star is a theoretical type of star that might be formed after a supernova. It would have a tiny core about the size of an apple that has twice as much mass as the earth because it has higher density than a quark star. Within the core, quarks are converted to leptons (such as electrons or neutrinos) by the electroweak force.

This core may be surrounded by a corona of additional less dense material, but even with that it that would make it at most a couple kilometers in size. So it is itty-bitty as far as stars go, and can only exist as the late-stage of a once much larger star.

An electroweak star could potentially sustain its heat and light for more than 10 million years before burning out.

Sources

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia on Electroweak Star

2. Wikipedia on Compact Star

Game and Story Use

• Could be an interesting navigational hazard, or part of a multi-star system. A binary star with one normal star and one tiny fist-sized nugget of fire would make for an interesting visual.
• The size of an apple makes it seem excellent for some sort of mythological parallel or symbolism.
  • Maybe a coded myth where using the book of Genesis as a star chart leads you to the Garden of Eden — a world where life began before panspermia erupted across the universe. Precursor artifacts abound, but were badly damaged by the supernova that made the apple.
  • Reptilians, Medusans or alien snake men might have a weapon of mass destruction that makes a star explode to wipe out entire systems at a time. In it's wake, only an electroweak apple remains as sign that anything greater was once present.