Events preceding the birth of a neutron star are understandable only in general terms. In the synthesis of iron from silicon, the energy release is negligible, and the radiation pressure does not allow stopping further compression of the star. The nuclei of the same iron, merging, give rise to even heavier, and then superheavy and unstable elements. And then the notorious conflict of the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics passes into the phase of power confrontation. The giant kernel must immediately disintegrate ... but it has nowhere to go! Gravitational contraction forces matter to accept states that are forbidden from the point of view of quantum mechanics ... From the most general considerations it is clear: something will happen! But what exactly? The language of mathematics is powerless to describe the collision of an irresistible force with an indestructible obstacle.
Or the collapse of a neutron star. Of course, the conversion of nucleons into a quark-gluon plasma is entirely possible. In the first hundred seconds after the Big Bang, it was not like that! But where is the Big Bang, and where is the neutron star with its millions of Kelvin ridiculous from the standpoint of high energy physics? The hypothesis, however, is still considered convincing. For alternative ways of obtaining the same amount of radiant energy imply something like a collision of an ordinary star with an antimatter star. And this is a bust even from the point of view of astrophysicists, who are able to imagine the most incredible processes.