X-ray timing and spectral behaviour of the Rapid Burster

We present an X-ray fast-timing and spectral analysis of the type II burstsand the persistent emission (PE) of the Rapid Burster observed with the EXOSATMedium-Energy Instrument. The Hardness-Intensity and Color-Color Diagrams ofthe Rapid Burster are somewhat different from those of the majority of otherlow-mass X-ray binaries, which fall into two distinct groups, ``atoll'' and``Z'' sources. The strength and frequencies of quasi-periodic oscillations(QPO) in the bursts and the PE, as well as a strong anti-correlation betweenQPO frequency and burst peak flux, also distinguish the Rapid Burster fromatoll and Z sources. The presence, frequency, and strength of QPO in type IIbursts are all correlated in some manner to the spectral hardness, as are thestrength of QPO and the very low-frequency noise (VLFN) component in thepersistent emission.