Luminosity Variation in Spectral State Transitions in X-ray Binaries and Non-stationary Accretion
Abstract
We present our studies of the spectral state transitions in all the persistent and transient Galactic X-ray binaries monitored quasi-simultaneously with the Swift/BAT and the RXTE/ASM. We confirm that in black hole binaries and neutron star low mass X-ray binaries there is a correlation between the luminosity at which the hard-to-soft state transition occurs and the peak luminosity of the following soft state. We will discuss the implications for the accretion geometry and the radiation mechanism in the hard state and show additional evidence that the luminosity variations of the spectral transitions originate from non-stationary accretion with rate-of-changes in both mass accretion rate and accretion geometry.
- Publication:
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AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division #10
- Pub Date:
- March 2008
- Bibcode:
- 2008HEAD...10.0703Y