<p>The neutron stars have about 1.1 to 3 solar masses. If the neutron star accretes mass, its mass will increase and once it crosses the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolman%E2%80%93Oppenheimer%E2%80%93Volkoff_limit" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff limit</a>, the star will collapse to form a black hole.</p>

<p>On way of this happening is in the case where one of the binary stars becomes a neutron star as in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_pulsar" rel="nofollow noreferrer">X-ray pulsars</a>. The neutron star receives gas supply from its companion, which increases its mass,for example <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaurus_X-3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">CenX3</a>.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/EtmJX.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/EtmJX.jpg" alt="Swift J1749"></a></p>

<p>Source: nasa.gov</p>

<p>Though this method could lead tothe formation of black hole, no observational evidence exists as of today.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-03T07:11:18.077Z
2015-09-03T07:11:18.077Z
aeroalias
<p>A nova is generally understood as an explosion of a star.  Thus comparing a nova to a stable neutron star is kind of a nonsensical thing to do.</p>

<p>If you're asking if a star goes nova and the core that remains is a neutron star after the resulting explosion, will it's mass increase overall?  The answer is no, since it loses a lot of mass in the process of going nova.  However, it is now more dense than before and the concentration of matter is in a much smaller space (the neutron star).  (The explosion compresses part of the star and pushes the rest of it outward off into space).</p>

<p>If you're asking if a neutron star's mass will increase if you throw matter at it, the answer is yes.  Just like any other form of matter.  Is there a limit to how bit you can increase it?  No; however, past a certain density it will compress into a black hole (which do not have a size limit as far as we know).</p>

<p>You may want to edit your question to clarify what you mean.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-04T14:46:15.107Z
A Nova is not the explosion of a star, it is an explosion *on* a star.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-05T02:12:49.647Z
@Rob Jefferies Thanks, you'r right I'm treating it like a supernova.  I'll edit my answer later.
Futuza
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-03T07:04:53.053Z
2015-09-03T07:04:53.053Z
Futuza
<p>When a nova gets matter, the outcome is that it may lose more matter because of eruptions. Only some kind of nova's masses can increase stably. </p>

<p>A white dwarf may become a supernova after it exceeds the Chandrasekhar limit, and we study that much. A neutron star can get mass too, why do not we talk about their end much?</p>

<p>How about a neutron star when it gets matter from accretion? It is necessary that its mass will increase? <br/>
When will it collapse?<br/></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-03T02:04:47.543Z
by "Nova gets matter", do you mean a white dwarf, where, as it adds mass, usually from a near-by star, it can reach the Chandrasekhar limit?   As a Neutron star adds mass it continues to get more dense and there is a point where it likely turns into a black hole.    I don't think the event has ever been observed though.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolman%E2%80%93Oppenheimer%E2%80%93Volkoff_limit   I suspect it's a smaller explosion than the white dwarf cause there's no influx of fusion energy.
userLTK
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-03T23:19:37.973Z
kind of related.  The 2nd comment explains what happens to matter as it falls into a Neutron Star.   http://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/1676/what-would-happen-if-a-body-were-to-fall-into-a-neutron-star
userLTK
<neutron-star><accretion-discs>
When a neutron star accretes matter, will its mass increase?
questionhang
# When a neutron star accretes matter, will its mass increase?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-02)

When a nova gets matter, the outcome is that it may lose more matter because of eruptions. Only some kind of nova's masses can increase stably.

A white dwarf may become a supernova after it exceeds the Chandrasekhar limit, and we study that much. A neutron star can get mass too, why do not we talk about their end much?

How about a neutron star when it gets matter from accretion? It is necessary that its mass will increase?   
When will it collapse?

**Tags:** neutron-star, accretion-discs
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: by "Nova gets matter", do you mean a white dwarf, where, as it adds mass, usually from a near-by star, it can reach the Chandrasekhar limit?   As a Neutron star adds mass it continues to get more dense and there is a point where it likely turns into a black hole.    I don't think the event has ever been observed though.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolman%E2%80%93Oppenheimer%E2%80%93Volkoff_limit   I suspect it's a smaller explosion than the white dwarf cause there's no influx of fusion energy.  
> **username_1**: kind of related.  The 2nd comment explains what happens to matter as it falls into a Neutron Star.   http://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/1676/what-would-happen-if-a-body-were-to-fall-into-a-neutron-star  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-09-03. Score: 2

The neutron stars have about 1.1 to 3 solar masses. If the neutron star accretes mass, its mass will increase and once it crosses the [Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff limit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolman%E2%80%93Oppenheimer%E2%80%93Volkoff_limit), the star will collapse to form a black hole.

On way of this happening is in the case where one of the binary stars becomes a neutron star as in [X-ray pulsars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_pulsar). The neutron star receives gas supply from its companion, which increases its mass,for example [CenX3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaurus_X-3).

[![Swift J1749](https://i.sstatic.net/EtmJX.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/EtmJX.jpg)

Source: nasa.gov

Though this method could lead tothe formation of black hole, no observational evidence exists as of today.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-09-03. Score: -1

A nova is generally understood as an explosion of a star. Thus comparing a nova to a stable neutron star is kind of a nonsensical thing to do.

If you're asking if a star goes nova and the core that remains is a neutron star after the resulting explosion, will it's mass increase overall? The answer is no, since it loses a lot of mass in the process of going nova. However, it is now more dense than before and the concentration of matter is in a much smaller space (the neutron star). (The explosion compresses part of the star and pushes the rest of it outward off into space).

If you're asking if a neutron star's mass will increase if you throw matter at it, the answer is yes. Just like any other form of matter. Is there a limit to how bit you can increase it? No; however, past a certain density it will compress into a black hole (which do not have a size limit as far as we know).

You may want to edit your question to clarify what you mean.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: A Nova is not the explosion of a star, it is an explosion *on* a star.  
> **username_3**: @Rob Jefferies Thanks, you'r right I'm treating it like a supernova.  I'll edit my answer later.  

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