Observations of Ultraluminous X-ray Sources
Abstract
Ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs), first observed ~30 years ago, have been argued as extreme stellar mass black hole binaries or a new class of black hole that is intermediate in mass and luminosity. In order to settle this debate, scientists have utilised a wide range of telescopes, exploiting large amount of the electro-magnetic spectrum. Here we review some of the insight gained from these observational studies, collating an overview of our current position in ULX research.
- Publication:
-
International Conference on Binaries: in celebration of Ron Webbink's 65th Birthday
- Pub Date:
- December 2010
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.3536400
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1101.5387
- Bibcode:
- 2010AIPC.1314..353G
- Keywords:
-
- X-ray sources (astronomical);
- accretion disks;
- black holes;
- brightness;
- interstellar matter;
- 97.80.Jp;
- 97.10.Gz;
- 97.60.Lf;
- 97.10.Ri;
- 98.58.Ay;
- X-ray binaries;
- Accretion and accretion disks;
- Black holes;
- Luminosities;
- magnitudes;
- effective temperatures colors and spectral classification;
- Physical properties;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
- E-Print:
- Review talk given at the meeting Mykonos-2010:"Binary Star Evolution: Mass Loss, Accretion, and Mergers". Submitted for publication in the proceedings