An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A → neutron star in a → binary system that accretes matter from the → campion star, either from the → stellar wind or from an → accretion disk that forms if the companion overflows its → Roche lobe. The → gravitational energy from the infalling matter provides at least part of the energy for the observed radiation and the accretion torques dominate the spin evolution. Despite these common properties, accreting → neutron stars display a wide variety of behaviors, depending on the neutron star → magnetic field strength,
mass of the companion and properties of → accretion
(A. K. Harding, 2013, Front. Phys. 8, 679).

See also: → accreting; → neutron; → star.