Dictionary of Space Concepts

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Definitions

Short Definition
Stellar wind is a stream of particles released from the outermost levels of the atmosphere of a star. The effect occurs due to the outward pressure being strong enough to overwhelm the gravitational force.

Detailed Definition
Stellar winds are composed of atoms, ions, and subatomic particles that are ejected by stellar magnetic fields or radiation pressure of a star’s inner nuclear reactions. Stellar winds of lower mass stars are thought to be the result of their magnetic field activity. Winds generated in this process cause subtle depletion of star’s mass over the stable lifetime, up until its transformation into a red giant. Red giants emit slow (10km/s) and voluminous (M > 10^-3 solar masses per year) stellar winds driven by the outward radiation pressure. On the contrary, stars of greater mass tend to jettison up to a half of their initial mass over lifetime, substantially affecting their further evolution.

Etymology

Stellar: from Latin stella"star"
Wind: of Germanic origin, from Proto-Indo-European h₂wéh₁n̥tos (“wind”)

Sample Sentences

Bright bow shocks form around stars when their stellar winds interact with the
interstellar medium.

Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages

French
le vent stellaire
Swedish

Additional Translations of Terms/Concepts into Other Languages

Russian
звездный ветер

Ukrainian
зоряний вiтер

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