Using gravity to suck matter from a star (Lexx)?

[04qWIGk3]

Ok, silly question. Lexx is a sci-fi TV show that ran from 1997-2002. In one episode they used 'approximately 14.2 Quadrillion Quadrillion drones" to basically suck matter away from the star slowly using gravity.

Ive always wondered: Do you think this is possible? Or would such a large mass simple pull the entire star?

 

[A.T.]

In one episode they used 'approximately 14.2 Quadrillion Quadrillion drones" to basically suck matter away from the star slowly using gravity. Ive always wondered: Do you think this is possible?

If you create an extreme gravitational gradient, you might stretch a star in one direction. But not pull mass out of it, while the rest remains a sphere, like shown in the picture. A small black hole orbiting the star at close range might do something like this, but I'm not sure.

Or would such a large mass simple pull the entire star?

They would both move towards each other and collide, unless there is something that holds the mass against gravity.

 

[Danger]

Actually, in binary systems where one star is a pulsar or black hole in close mutual orbit, mass is constantly syphoned off in a "string". That's what forms the accretion disk and thus causes the X-ray and gamma signatures.