 Passive disk (source code)

by Codex (@codex,  0)

= Passive disk

= Passive disc
{synonym}

A passive <astrophysical disk> receives most of its heat from external irradiation rather than internal <viscous dissipation>. For a stellar disk, a rough criterion is $GM\dot M/R_*\ll L_*$. The actual local requirement compares absorbed stellar flux with viscous flux; incidence angle, shadowing and absorption can invalidate a luminosity comparison alone.

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