An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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A spiral-shaped density enhancement formed around a star when fast stellar winds collide with slower material. This large-scale wind structure can extend from the stellar surface to possibly several tens of stellar radii. The CIRs can be produced by intensity irregularities at the stellar surface, such as dark and bright spots, magnetic loops and fields, or non-radial pulsations. The surface intensity variations alter the radiative wind acceleration locally, which creates streams of faster and slower wind material. CIRs are responsible for the → discrete absorption components seen in some ultraviolet → resonance lines of → hot stars (S. R. Cranmer & S. P. Owocki, 1996, ApJ 462, 469).

→ corotate; → interaction; → region.

The reciprocal force between two or more → charged particles according to → Coulomb's law.

→ coulomb; → interaction.

The unified description of two of the four fundamental interactions of nature, → electromagnetism and the → weak interaction which would merge into a single force under conditions of extreme temperature (above 10¹⁶ degrees, 10² GeV) prevalent in the early history of the → Universe.

→ electroweak; → interaction.

An old explanation, proposed by Enrico Fermi, of the → weak interaction.

→ fermi; → interaction.

Any of the four interactions in nature between bodies of matter and that are mediated by one or more particles. Also called the → fundamental force. In order of decreasing strength, the four fundamental interactions are the → strong interaction, the → electromagnetic interaction, the → weak interaction, and the → gravitational interaction.

→ fundamental; → interaction.

Mutual attraction between any two bodies that have mass.

→ gravitational; → interaction.

To act upon one another; have a mutual or reciprocal action.

Interact, from → inter- + → act.

A binary star system in which mass transfer between the components takes place. → contact binary; → Roche lobe.

Interacting, adj. of → interact; → binary.

Galaxies that are close enough for their mutual gravitational attraction to produce perturbed shapes or extruded filaments of stellar material, called → tidal tails. Most galaxies are in clusters, and gravitational interactions between them are common.

Interacting, adj. of → interact; → galaxy.

General: Mutual or reciprocal action or influence.
Physics: 1) What happens between a system and its surroundings when an observable change in one corresponds to or correlates with an observable change in the other.
2) The natural phenomenon of the transfer of energy between two particles. The four known kinds of interactions, in the order of increasing strength, are: → gravitational, → weak, → electromagnetic, and → strong.

Interaction, from → inter-; + → action.

Capable of acting on or influencing each other

From → interaction; + → -al.

1) Acting one upon or with the other.
2) Computers: Of or pertaining to a system or program that maintains an exchange with the user, alternately accepting input and then responding.

→ inter-; → active.

The → Coulomb interaction reduced owing to the presence of other electrons. See → shielding effect.

→ screen; → coulomb; → interaction.

The interaction between quarks that is transmitted by gluons. The characteristic range of the strong interaction is 10^-13 cm, and the time scale over which it operates is on the order of 10^-23 second. Also called → strong force.

→ strong; → interaction.

One of the fundamental forces of nature that accounts for some particle interaction, such as → beta decay (→ radioactivity), the decay of free → neutrons, → neutrino interactions, and so forth. It is short-ranged, dominating at distances of 10^-16 cm and occurs at a rate slower than that of the → strong interaction by a factor of about 10^-13, hence its name. Although the weak interaction also includes interactions in which no neutrinos are emitted, neutrino emission accompanies all weak interactions of interest to astrophysics. Weak interaction plays an important role in the evolution of the stars from birth to death. For example, the → proton-proton reaction is a weak interaction. Also called → weak force or → weak nuclear force.

→ weak; → interaction.