The Nature of the Faint Chandra X-Ray Sources in the Galactic Center

Recent Chandra X-Ray Observatory observations have revealed a large population of faint X-ray point sources in the Galactic center. The observed population consists of >~2000 faint sources in the luminosity range ~10³¹-10³³ ergs s^-1. The majority of these sources (70%) are described by hard spectra, while the rest are rather soft. The nature of these sources still remains unknown. Belczynski & Taam demonstrated that X-ray binaries with neutron star or black hole accretors may account for most of the soft sources, but are not numerous enough to account for the observed number and X-ray properties of the faint hard sources. A population synthesis calculation of the Galactic center region has been carried out. Our results indicate that the numbers and X-ray luminosities of intermediate Polars are consistent with the observed faint hard Galactic center population.