An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A process in which two stars remain → bound after their → close encounter, leading to the formation of a → binary system. Tidal capture becomes possible when two stars pass each other so closely (within a few stellar radii) that their → tidal forces are able to absorb the excess energy of → unbound → orbital motion. The process was originally suggested by Fabian et al. (1975) to explain the origin of → low-mass X-ray binary systems observed for the first time in → globular clusters.

See also: → tidal; → capture.