ACCRETION LINES Meaning and
Definition
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Accretion lines refer to the luminous hot gas that is gravitationally pulled towards a celestial object, such as a star, a black hole, or a neutron star, through accretion.
Accretion is the process by which matter accumulates onto an astronomical object due to its gravitational attraction. Accretion lines are the regions where this matter, often in the form of a gas or plasma, is being pulled towards the massive object. As the gas spirals closer and closer towards the object, it forms these lines, resembling thin, glowing filaments or trails.
These lines are the result of the gravitational forces creating a powerful magnetic field around the object. The magnetic field forces the gas to follow specific paths, often along the magnetic field lines, as it spirals towards the object. During this process, the gas heats up due to friction and pressure, giving rise to the luminosity observed in the accretion lines.
Accretion lines are commonly observed in various astrophysical phenomena, such as in binary star systems where one star transfers mass onto another, in active galactic nuclei where massive black holes accumulate matter, or in the formation of protostars. Studying these accretion lines provides valuable insights into the dynamics, energetics, and evolutionary processes of celestial objects.
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Lines seen in microscopical sections of the enamel, marking successive layers of added material.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ACCRETION LINES
- zccretion lines
- sccretion lines
- wccretion lines
- qccretion lines
- axcretion lines
- avcretion lines
- afcretion lines
- adcretion lines
- acxretion lines
- acvretion lines
- acfretion lines
- acdretion lines
- acceetion lines
- accdetion lines
- accfetion lines
- acctetion lines
- acc5etion lines
- acc4etion lines
- accrwtion lines
- accrstion lines
Etymology of ACCRETION LINES
The term "accretion lines" is derived from the word "accretion" and the word "lines".
The word "accretion" comes from the Latin word "accretio", which means "growth" or "increase". In the context of astrophysics, accretion refers to the process by which matter accumulates or gathers together through gravitational attraction. In particular, it refers to the accumulation of matter onto a celestial object, such as a star or a black hole.
The term "lines" refers to the phenomenon of spectral lines that are observed in the electromagnetic spectrum, specifically in the context of spectroscopy. Spectral lines are the specific wavelengths of light that are emitted or absorbed by atoms or molecules when they undergo transitions between energy levels. These lines can provide important information about the composition, temperature, and other properties of celestial objects.
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