Difference between revisions of "Accretion Disk"
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| − | + | An '''accretion disk''' is the term for a rapidly rotating disk of material that forms around a high-mass compact object, such as a [[white dwarf]] star or [[neutron star]].<ref>[http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/dictionary/index.cfm?Display=Dictionary&Letter=A NASA Dictionary].</ref> In order to conserve angular momentum, as material in the disk moves towards the central mass, its rotational speed increases as does its temperature. As a result, accretion disks often emit radiation in the [[x-ray]] and [[gamma ray]] portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. | |
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Astronomy]] | [[Category:Astronomy]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:30, February 12, 2010
An accretion disk is the term for a rapidly rotating disk of material that forms around a high-mass compact object, such as a white dwarf star or neutron star.[1] In order to conserve angular momentum, as material in the disk moves towards the central mass, its rotational speed increases as does its temperature. As a result, accretion disks often emit radiation in the x-ray and gamma ray portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.