Open AccessLOW-MASS BINARY X-RAY SOURCES: MONITORING WITH VARIOUS SATELLITES
Author(s) -
V. Šimon
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acta polytechnica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.207
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 1805-2363
pISSN - 1210-2709
DOI - 10.14311/ap.2014.54.0248
Subject(s) - astrophysics , light curve , low mass , luminosity , physics , binary number , amplitude , spectral analysis , low energy , spectral slope , spectral shape analysis , astronomy , spectral line , optics , spectroscopy , stars , atomic physics , arithmetic , mathematics , galaxy
We show the importance of observing low-mass binary (LMXB) X-ray sources with the X-ray monitors onboard satellites. This enables us to study the physical processes governing the longterm activity of LMXBs. They are excellent targets for monitoring because of their strong activity. We recall that various physical processes operating in LMXBs produce specific large-amplitude variations of X-ray luminosity which can be investigated even in a single-band X-ray light curve as often provided by the monitors. We also emphasize the role of the spectral region of the X-ray monitor. Choosing the spectral region often strongly influences the profile of the observed intensity curve because different emission components may dominate in different X-ray energy ranges. We show several examples of LMXBs which undergo various types of unpredictable activity (e.g. outbursts, superorbital cycles).