An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The radiative energy put back to the environment through an astrophysical process. For example, in the process of → star formation 
→ accretion disks form around → protostars. The material in the disk spirals inward and on to the protostar, provided that there is an efficient mechanism to redistribute → angular momentum outward in the disk. During this process → gravitational energy is transformed into radiation due to → viscous dissipation in the disk and at the → accretion shock around the protostar. This radiation heats the region around the protostar and may → suppress subsequent → fragmentation and further star formation. Thus, radiative feedback plays a critical role in regulating the stellar → initial mass function.

See also: → radiative; → feedback.