(string of mass ejected by tidal forces during a neutron star merger)
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 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.