Accretion Disks

Accretion disks are rotating disks of gas and dust that form around massive objects like black holes, neutron stars, or young stars. As material spirals in towards these objects due to gravity, it heats up and emits radiation, often in the form of X-rays. This process creates extremely high-energy environments, making accretion disks important for studying cosmic phenomena. They are essential in understanding how gravity influences matter, energy production in the universe, and the growth of black holes, as well as contributing to the formation of new stars and planetary systems.