accretionrelated

Accretion-related refers to phenomena associated with accretion, the process by which matter is drawn toward and accumulated by a central mass under gravity. In astrophysics, this often involves gas in orbit around a compact or forming object that forms an accretion disk. Through viscous transport and, frequently, magnetic effects, material moves inward while angular momentum is transported outward, releasing gravitational potential energy as radiation. Accretion rates, disk structure, and energy output depend on factors such as viscosity, magnetic fields, and radiation pressure.

Common models describe different regimes of accretion. The thin disk model (Shakura–Sunyaev) applies to radiatively efficient, moderate accretion; advection-dominated accretion flows (ADAF) describe low-luminosity, radiatively inefficient cases; slim disks cover high accretion rates where advection becomes important. Bondi accretion describes quasi-spherical inflow onto a gravitating body, while Bondi–Hoyle–Lyttleton accretion applies to objects moving relative to ambient gas. In planetary systems, accretion-related growth includes processes such as pebble accretion and core accretion that assemble planets from smaller solids.

Observationally, accretion produces continuum and line emission across the spectrum, with characteristic variability and, in many systems, jets or outflows. Measuring accretion rates remains challenging, because estimates depend on distance, geometry, and the radiative efficiency of the flow. Accompanying effects, such as disks, winds, and magnetic activity, play central roles in the evolution of astrophysical objects including stars, white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes, and active galactic nuclei.