[qubex]

The term “Dark Star” actually predates the term “Black Hole” by a very long margin (first recorded usage 1783) [0] for classical Newtonian objects whose mass is so large that the escape velocity at their surface exceeds the finite speed of light. Black Holes are very different beasts (self-sustaining concentrations of space-time curvature), despite their popular explanation as being “objects so massive space cannot escape”.

It’s extremely improbable that any “classical” (non exotic-quantum) processes are going on within the horizon because it’s very clear that the strength of the gravitational field would far exceed the hydrostatic pressure generated by fusion reactions. It far exceeds the degeneracy forces that prevent neutron stars from collapsing further under their own mass.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_star_(Newtonian_mechanics...