Long term behaviour of high mass X-mass binaries
Abstract
The results presented in this thesis concern X-ray and optical variability in X-ray binaries (XRB) on timescales ranging from seconds to years. Such a range of timescales probes many physical processes and provides insights on the accretion process, interaction with the binary companion and evolutionary scenarios for High Mass X-ray Binaries (HMXB) Two separate populations of X-ray binaries were studied, those in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) and in the Galaxy. Results of a 4 year X-ray monitoring campaign of the SMC using the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) are presented. 8 new X-ray pulsars were discovered and a total of 20 different systems were observed with spectral and timing parameters obtained for 18. In the case of 9 pulsars, multiple outbursts were observed, allowing determination of the orbital periods in these systems. A sample of bright X-ray binaries in the Galaxy and SMC were studied at high energy using 7 years of data from the Burst and Transient Source Experiment on CGRO. The behaviour of these XRB was studied on timescales of days years and revealed orbital and superorbital modulations as well as long term changes in brightness and temporal behaviour.
- Publication:
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Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003PhDT.........7L
- Keywords:
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- Physics: Astronomy and Astrophysics