An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

In star formation models involving magnetized accretion, a process whereby the stellar rotational → angular velocity becomes equal to the → Keplerian angular velocity of the → accretion disk. This happens at the → corotation radius. Disk locking is believed to be responsible for efficient loss of stellar → angular momentum during the → pre-main sequence contraction of → T Tauri stars. These stars are expected to spin up by a factor of about 3 due to contraction after being magnetically disconnected from the → circumstellar disk. However, observations show that a large fraction of pre-main sequence stars evolve at nearly constant angular velocity through the first 4 Myr. This process results from → magnetic braking. The idea of magnetic disk locking originated with the theory developed by Ghosh & Lamb (1979, ApJ 232, 259) for → neutron stars.

Etymology (EN): M.E., from O.E. lucan “to lock, to close,” from loc “bolt, fastening, enclosure;” cf. M.L.G. lok, O.H.G. loh, O.N. lok “a cover, lid,” Goth. -luk in usluk “opening,” Ger. Loch “opening, hole,” Du. luck “shutter.”

Etymology (PE): Girkard, from gir “hold, block,” from gereftan “to seize, hold, take,” → eclipse, + kard noun from kardan “to do,” → work.