Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T22:59:59.696Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Compact Binary X-Ray Sources

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

Richard McCray*
Affiliation:
Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, University of Colorado and National Bureau of Standards, Boulder, CO 80309-0440USA

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Compact binary X-ray sources include white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes that are accreting matter from a companion star. The X-ray emission from these systems is produced by the accreting matter as it flows through an accretion disk and strikes the surface of the compact object. The emitting regions have opacities dominated by electron scattering, and radiation pressure is likely to play an important role in the hydrodynamics. Strong magnetic fields greatly modify the hydrodynamics and radiation transfer in the pulsating neutron star sources. Accretion disks have complex structure, including an electron scattering corona, a cool outer region, and possibly a thick torus in their inner region. The structure and stability properties of accretion disks are only partially understood. Major problems exist with the interpretation of the spectra and luminosities of the X-ray burst sources. The pulsed X-ray emission from the pulsating binary X-ray sources probably comes from “mounds” of accreting gas at the magnetic poles of neutron stars, in which the accreting matter is decelerated by radiation pressure. The physics of these systems is reviewed, with an emphasis on problems for which hydrodynamical simulations may be especially useful.

Type
4. Stellar X-Ray Sources
Copyright
Copyright © Springer-Verlag 1986

References

1. Shklovsky, I.S.: Sov. Astr.-AJ 11, 749 (1968).Google Scholar
2. Holt, S.S. and McCray, R.: Ann. Rev. Astr. Ap.. 20, 323 (1982).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Joss, P.C. and Rappaport, S.A.: Ann. Rev. Astr. Ap. 22, 537 (1984).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Liebert, J. and Stockman, H.S.: in Cataclysmic Variables and Low Mass X-Ray Binaries, edited by Lamb, D.Q. and Patterson, J. (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1985), pp. 151178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Lamb, D.Q.: in Cataclysmic Variables and Low Mass X-Ray Binaries, edited by Lamb, D.Q. and Patterson, J. (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1985), pp. 179218.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Warner, B.: in Cataclysmic Variables and Low Mass X-Ray Binaries, edited by Lamb, D.Q. and Patterson, J. (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1985), pp. 269280.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7. J.Faulkner, , Lin, D.N.C., and Papaloizou, J.C.B.: M.N.R.A.S. 205, 359 (1983).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. Meyer, F. and E.Meyer-Hofmeister, : Astr. Ap. 128, 420 (1983).Google Scholar
9. Papaloizou, J.C.B., Faulkner, J., and Lin, D.N.C.: M.N.R.A.S. 205, 487 (1983).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10. Lin, D. N. C., Papaloizou, J.C.B., and Faulkner, J.: M.N.R.A.S. 212, 105 (1985).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Lewin, W. G. H. and van Paradijs, J.: Comments Ap. (1986), in press.Google Scholar
12. Melia, F. and Joss, P.C.: these proceedings (1986).Google Scholar
13. Waki, I., I. et al.: Publ. Astr. Soc. Japan 36, 819 (1984).Google Scholar
14. Krolik, J. H., McKee., C. F.. and Tarter, C. B.: Ap. J. 249, 422 (1981).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15. Kallman, T. and McCray., R.: Ap. J. Suppl. 50, 263 (1982).Google Scholar
16. Ostriker, J. P., McCray, R., Weaver, R., and Yahil, A.: Ap. J. Lett. 208, L61 (1976).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17. London, R., McCray, R., and Auer, L.H.: Ap. J. 243, 970 (1981).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18. Meszaros, P. and Nagel, W.: Ap. J. 298, 147 (1985).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19. Pringle, N.E.: Ann. Rev. Astr. Ap. 19, 137 (1981).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20. White, N. E. and Holt, S.S.: Ap. J. 257, 318 (1982).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21. Begelman, M. C. and McKee, C.F.: Ap. J. 271, 89 (1983).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22. Begelman, M. C., McKee, C.F., and Shields, G.A.: Ap. J. 271, 70 (1983).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23. Shields, G.A., McKee, C.F., Lin, D.N.C., and Begelman, M.C.: Ap. J. (1985), in press.Google Scholar
24. Lamb, F. K.: in AIP Conference Proceedings No. 115, High Energy Transients in Astrophysics, edited by koosley, S.E., (American Institute of Physics, New York, 1984), pp. 175215.Google Scholar
25 Shapiro, S.L., Lightman, A.P., and Eardley, D.M.: Ap. J. 204, 187 (1976).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
26. Rees, M., Begelman, M.C., Blandford, R.D., and Phinney, E.S.: Nature 295, 17 (1982).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27. Paczynski, B. and Wiita, P.: Astr. Ap. 88, 23 (1980).Google Scholar
28. Hoshi, R.: Prog. Th. Phys. Suppl. 70, 181 (1981).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
29. Papaloizou, J. C. B. and Pringle, J.E.: M.N.R.A.S. 208, 721 (1984).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
30. Papaloizou, J. C. B. and Pringle, J.E.: M.N.R.A.S. 213, 799 (1985).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
31. Taam, R. E. and Lin, D.N.C.: Ap. J. 287, 761 (1984)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
32. Lamb, F. K., Shibazaki, N., Shaham, J., and Alpar, M.A.: Nature 317, 681 (1985).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
33. London, R. A., Taam, R.E., and Howard, W.M.: Ap. J. Lett. 287, L27 (1984).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
34. London, R. A., Howard, W.M., and Taam, R.E.: Ap. J. (1986), in press.Google Scholar
35. Ebisuzaki, T., Hanawa, T., and Sugimoto, D.: Publ. Astron. Soc. Japan 35, 17 (1983).Google Scholar
36. White, N. E., Swank, J.H., and Holt, S.S.: Ap. J. 270, 711 (1983).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
37. Davidson, K.: Nature Phys. Sci. 246, 1 (1973).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
38. Basko, M. M. and Sunyaev, R.A.: Sov. Phys. JETP 41, 52 (1974).Google Scholar
39. Basko, M. M. and Sunyaev, R.A.: Astr. Ap. 42, 311 (1975).Google Scholar
40. Basko, M. M. and Sunyaev, R.A.: M.N.R.A.S. 175, 395 (1976).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
41. Meszaros, P. and Nagel, W.: Ap. J. 299, 138 (1975).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
42. Arons, J., Klein, R.I., and Iea, S.M.: Ap. J. (1986), submitted.Google Scholar
43. Wang, Y. M. and Frank, J.: Astr. Ap. 93, 255 (1981).Google Scholar
44. Kirk, J. G.: Astr. Ap. 142, 430 (1985).Google Scholar
45. Arons, J.. Burnard, D.J., Klein, R.I., McKee, C.F., Pudritz, R., and Lea, S.M.: in AIP Conference Proceedings No. 115, High Energy Transients in Astrophysics, edited by Woosley, S.E., (American Institute of Physics, New York, 1984), pp. 215234.Google Scholar