An Overabundance of Transient X-ray Binaries within 1 pc of the Galactic Center

Details An Overabundance of Transient X-ray Binaries within 1 pc of the Galactic Center An Overabundance of Transient X-ray Binaries within 1 pc of the Galactic Center

2004-12-17

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0412492v1

Astrophys.J. 622 (2005) L113-L116

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

4 pages, including 2 figures (one color). Submitted to ApJ Letters

Scientific paper

10.1086/429721

During five years of Chandra observations, we have identified seven X-ray transients located within 23 pc of Sgr A*. These sources each vary in luminosity by more than a factor of 10, and have peak X-ray luminosities greater than 5e33 erg/s, which strongly suggests that they are accreting black holes or neutron stars. The peak luminosities of the transients are intermediate between those typically considered outburst and quiescence for X-ray binaries. Remarkably four of these transients lie within only 1 pc of Sgr A*. This implies that, compared to the numbers of similar systems located between 1 and 23 pc, transients are over-abundant by a factor of 20 per unit stellar mass within 1 pc of Sgr A*. It is likely that the excess transient X-ray sources are low-mass X-ray binaries that were produced, as in the cores of globular clusters, by three-body interactions between binary star systems and either black holes or neutron stars that have been concentrated in the central parsec through dynamical friction. Alternatively, they could be high-mass X-ray binaries that formed among the young stars that are present in the central parsec.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

An Overabundance of Transient X-ray Binaries within 1 pc of the Galactic Center does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with An Overabundance of Transient X-ray Binaries within 1 pc of the Galactic Center, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and An Overabundance of Transient X-ray Binaries within 1 pc of the Galactic Center will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-332344