Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
1996-11-05
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
10 pages, PostScript file ps.gz file. Invited review talk at the IAU Colloquium 163 `Accretion Phenomena and Related Outflows'
Scientific paper
A variety of high energy (>1 keV) spectra have been observed in recent years from Black Hole (BH) and Neutron Star (NS) X-ray Binaries (XB). Some common physical components exist between BHXBs and NSXBs, resulting in some high energy spectral features. A common component between a BHXB and a weakly magnetized NSXB is the inner accretion disk region extending very close to the surface (for a NS) or the horizon (for a BH). The inner disk radiation can be described by a multi-color blackbody (MCB) spectral model. The surface radiation of the NS can be approximated by a Single Color Blackbody (SCB) spectrum. For a strongly magnetized NSXB, the high energy emission is from its magnetosphere, characterised by a thermal bremsstrahlung (TB) spectrum. In both BHXBs and weakly magnetized NSXBs, a hot electron cloud may exist, producing the hard X-ray power law (photon index -1.5 to -2.0) with thermal cutoff (50-200 keV). It has been recently proposed that a converging flow may be formed near the horizon of a BH, producing a softer power law (photon index about -2.5) without cutoff up to several hundred keV. Based on these concepts we also discuss possible ways to distinguish between BH and NS XBs. Finally we discuss briefly spectral state transitions in both BH and NS XBs.
No associations
LandOfFree
High Energy Continuum Spectra from X-Ray Binaries 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 High Energy Continuum Spectra from X-Ray Binaries, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and High Energy Continuum Spectra from X-Ray Binaries will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-55978