tidal tail

In astrophysics, the term tidal tail refers to a "tail" (i.e., a long stream of something) extracted from an astronomical object through tidal forces, during an encounter with another object. Two common uses:

• a type of mass ejection from a neutron star in a compact object merger.
• a string of stars extracted from a galaxy during a close encounter with another galaxy, i.e., the result of galaxy interaction (the effects of galactic tide). The term tidal plume is also used, sometimes just meaning a tidal tail, and sometimes specifically meaning one that is diffuse or spread out.