A quantum state where electrons are packed so densely that they fill all available energy levels up to the Fermi energy, creating pressure independent of temperature. This phenomenon supports white dwarf stars against gravitational collapse.
From Greek 'elektron' meaning 'amber' (source of electric charge) and Latin 'degeneratus.' The concept developed in the 1920s when Fermi-Dirac statistics explained the behavior of electrons under extreme density conditions.
Electron degeneracy turns matter into something like a quantum crystal - the electrons can't be squeezed any closer together because quantum mechanics literally forbids it! This is why white dwarfs, despite being incredibly hot, are solid throughout and will remain the same size even as they cool for trillions of years.
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