Degeneracy as an Equilibrium Phase: Plasma Ionization and Neutronization Critical Conditions

Description This work develops a mathematical framework for defining three major regimes of stellar matter within the language of closed surface theory: plasma ionization, degeneracy, and neutronization. Plasma is characterized by partial opening and recombination of electronic closed surfaces, described quantitatively by the Saha equation and Debye screening. Degeneracy is redefined as an equilibrium phase where supporting pressures (thermal, degeneracy, radiation, Coulomb) balance compressive forces (e.g., gravitational hydrostatics). Neutronization is treated as the collapse and reclosure of surfaces once the electron chemical potential exceeds a nuclear threshold , giving a critical density and pressure dependent on nuclear species and temperature. The formulation offers a unified phase diagram (gas → plasma → degeneracy → neutronization) and maps standard physical quantities onto closed-surface concepts such as interference density and surface tension. This provides a clearer geometrical interpretation of stellar matter transitions beyond conventional terminology.