X-ray binaries and black hole candidates: a review of optical properties

Casares, J.
Bibliographical reference

In: Binary stars: selected topics on observations and physical processes. Lectures held at the Astrophysics School XII organized by the European Astrophysics Doctoral Network (EADN) in La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain, 6 - 17 September 1999, Eds.: F. C. Lázaro, M. J. Arévalo, Lecture notes in physics, Vol. 563. Physics and astronomy online library. Berlin: Springer, ISBN 3-540-41256-5, 2001, p. 277 - 327

Advertised on:
2001
Number of authors
1
IAC number of authors
1
Citations
12
Refereed citations
10
Description
This chapter summarizes the optical properties of X-ray binaries, with special emphasis on the class of low mass X-ray binaries and soft X-ray transients. The latter provide the most compelling evidence for the existence of black holes in the Universe, with nine well-established dynamical studies. We review the techniques employed to extract the component masses and discuss the importance of systematic effects. Despite the growing number of black hole cases, the uncertainties involved are still too large to draw statistical conclusions on the mass distribution of collapsed objects. We also present new observational techniques which may help to improve the mass determinations and set constraints on the theory of supernovae and black hole formation.