ackretionsdisk

An accretion disk is a structure formed by diffuse material in space that orbits a massive central body, such as a young star, a stellar remnant, a protostar, or a supermassive black hole. The material in the disk gradually spirals inward towards the central object. This inward motion is driven by a combination of gravitational forces from the central object and internal processes within the disk, such as friction and turbulence, which transfer angular momentum outwards.

Accretion disks are common in astrophysics and are responsible for a variety of phenomena. For example, the formation of planets occurs within the accretion disks surrounding young stars. In binary star systems, material can be transferred from a companion star onto a more massive object, forming an accretion disk that can lead to phenomena like novae or X-ray emissions. Accretion disks around black holes are particularly energetic and can produce powerful jets of particles moving at nearly the speed of light, as well as intense radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum. Studying the properties of accretion disks, such as their temperature, composition, and dynamics, allows astronomers to understand the processes occurring in these extreme environments.