Compact stellar object
= Compact stellar object
A dense stellar-scale object such as a <white dwarf>, <neutron star> or stellar-mass <black hole>. <accretion> releases a large gravitational binding <energy> per unit <mass> because the accreting surface or inner orbit is small. A <black hole> has no material surface, so its radiative yield depends on the <accretion> flow rather than surface impact.