An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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The process in which a star is torn apart by the → tidal forces of a → supermassive black hole. About 50% of the star's mass is eventually → accreted by the → black hole, generating a flare, which, in extreme cases of very high (→ super-Eddington) mass → accretion rates, can result in a → relativistic jet. TDEs have been proposed as sources of → ultra-high-energy cosmic rays and suggested as sources of high energy astrophysical → neutrinos (W. Winter and C. Lunardini, 2021, Nature Astronomy, arXiv:2005.06097 and references therein).

→ tidal; → disruption; → event.

A luminosity enhancement in the → light curve of a galaxy observed in X-rays or ultraviolet surveys supposed to be associated with the → tidal disruption of a star that has passed close to a → supermassive black hole in the core of a → host galaxy. An → accretion disk forms after the tidal disruption. The flare event marks the beginning of the accretion process onto the black hole.

→ tidal; → disruption; → flare.

→ Nasireddin couple.

Named for Nasireddin Tusi (1201-1274), director of Marâgha observatory who created the Ilkhani zij; → couple.

A type of supernova whose spectra lacks hydrogen lines. Its → light curve exhibits a sharp maximum with a gradual decrease. Typical magnitudes M_V = -14 to -17. Ejecta velocities about 10,000 km/sec. Type I supernovae have several subtypes: → Type Ia, → Type Ib, and → Type Ic.

Type I initially introduced by R. Minkowski (1941, PASP 53, 224); → type; → supernova.

A → Type I supernova that presents a singly-ionized silicon (Si II) absorption feature at 6150 Å near peak brightness. Type Ia SNe are believed to result from mass → accretion to a carbon-oxygen → white dwarf in a → close binary system. When the white dwarf mass exceeds the → Chandrasekhar limit, the → degenerate electron pressure can no longer support the accumulated mass and the star collapses in a thermonuclear explosion producing a supernova. The → peak luminosity of SNe Ia is set by the radioactive decay chain ⁵⁶Ni → ⁵⁶Co → ⁵⁶Fe, and the observed photometric correlation between the peak luminosity and the time-scale over which the → light curve decays from its maximum is understood physically as having both the luminosity and → opacity being set by the mass of ⁵⁶Ni synthesized in the explosion. Type Ia supernovae occur in all types of galaxies. Type Ia SNe are used as → standard candles in determining cosmological distances, after normalizing their light curves with the → Phillips relation.

→ type; → supernova.

A → Type I supernova that has neutral helium line (He I) at 5876 Å, and no strong silicon (Si II) absorption feature at 6150 Å. Type Ib supernovae are believed to result from the evolution of → massive stars.

→ type; → supernova.

A → Type I supernova that shows weak or no helium lines and no strong silicon (Si II) absorption feature near 6150 Å. Type Ic supernovae are believed to result from the evolution of → massive stars.

→ type; → supernova.

A supernova type whose spectrum contains hydrogen lines. Compared with → Type I supernovae, its → light curve has a broader peak at maximum and dies away more rapidly. The magnitudes are smaller, ranging from M_V = -12 to -13.5, and the ejecta have lower velocities (about 5,000 km/sec). These supernovae, which result from the final evolution of → massive stars, have three main divisions: → Type II-P, → Type II-L, and → Type II-n.

Type II initially introduced by R. Minkowski (1941, PASP 53, 224); → type; → supernova.

A → Type II supernova which displays a linear decrease in its → light curve.

→ Type II supernova; L short for → linear.

A → Type II supernova which shows intermediate or very narrow width hydrogen → emission lines in the spectra.

→ Type II supernova; n short for → narrow.

A → Type II supernova which reaches a plateau in its → light curve. The vast majority of Type II SNe are characterized by a fast (few days) rise to a flat light curve, most pronounced in the reddest optical bands, with a duration of 80-100 days. This plateau phase is interpreted as the recession of the photosphere as the ejecta expand and cool. The spectra of SNe II-P are typically dominated by strong → P Cygni profiles of hydrogen lines, as well as iron absorption features (for a review, e.g., see Filippenko 1997, ARA&A 35, 309).

→ Type II supernova; P short for → plateau.

The set of n × n unitary matrices (→ unitary matrix).

→ unitary; → group.

To, toward, or in a more elevated position.

M.E. up(pe) (adv.), O.E. up(p) "to a higher position;" cf. O.Frisian up, O.S. up, M.Du. up, op, O.N. upp; O.H.G. uf; (Ger. auf), Goth. iup.

Bâlâ "up, above, high, elevated, height" (related to boland "high," borz "height, magnitude" (it occurs also in the name of the mountain chain Alborz), Lori dialect berg "hill, mountain;" Mid.Pers. buland "high;" O.Pers. baršan- "height;" Av. barəz- "high, mount," barezan- "height;" cf. Skt. bhrant- "high;" L. fortis "strong" (Fr. & E. force); O.E. burg, burh "castle, fortified place;" Ger. Burg "castle;" Goth. baurgs "city;" E. burg, borough; Fr. bourgeois, bourgeoisie, faubourg); PIE base *bhergh- "high."

1a) An incline going up in the direction of movement.
1b) An increase or improvement.
1c) A new version, improved model, etc.
2a) To promote to a higher grade or rank.
2b) To improve or enhance the quality or value of (Dictionary.com).

→ up; → grade.

The process by which an area of Earth's crust slowly rises either due to increasing upward force applied from below or decreasing downward force (weight) from above.

From → up + → lift.

Bâlâmad, literally "coming up," from bâlâ, → up, + âmad past stem of âmadan, → come.

To send data from one's computer to another computer. See also: → loading, → download.

→ up-; → load.

Bârgozâštan, literally "to put load," from bâr, → load, + gozâštan "to put, to place," → passage.

Higher, as in place, position, pitch, or in a scale.

Upper, from → up, → hyper-.

Bâlâ, → up; zabarin, → superior.

The part of the → arm between the → shoulder and the → elbow.

→ upper; → arm.

Bâzu "arm," from Mid.Pers. bâzûk "arm;" Av. bāzu- "arm;" Mod.Pers. bâhu "stick, staff; arm;" cf. Skt. bāhu- "arm, forearm;" Gk. pechys "forearm, arm, ell;" O.H.G. buog "shoulder;" Ger. Bug "shoulder;" Du. boeg; O.E. bôg, bôh "shoulder, bough;" E. bough " a branch of a tree;" PIE *bhaghu- "arm").

The general term applied to the atmosphere above the → troposphere.

→ upper; → atmosphere.

Same as → superior culmination.

→ upper; → culmination.