A slim accretion disk is an optically thick, moderately geometrically thick flow at a high accretion rate. Its inflow time can be shorter than its photon-diffusion time, so radial advection carries trapped radiation inward.
A slim accretion disk is optically thick and retains an important inward advective heat flux. It is distinct from the optically thin version of a radiatively inefficient accretion flow.
Photon trapping occurs when the radiative diffusion time across an optically thick flow exceeds its inward advection time. The trapped radiation is carried inward, reducing the emergent radiative efficiency.
The photon-trapping radius is where the outward radiative diffusion time equals the inward inflow time. Radiation generated inside it is predominantly advected toward the accretor.
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