X-ray evidence for white dwarf binaries in globular clusters
An apparently distinct class of low-luminosity (L/sub x/approx.10/sup 32/--10/sup 34/ ergs /sup -1/) X-ray sources has been discovered in globular clusters from a survey with the IPC detector on the Einstein X-Ray Observatory. The sources appear to be pointlike, and several lie well outside of the cluster core, indicating that their masses are < or approx. =1.0 M/sub sun/. These characteristics, together with previous studies of X-ray sources in globular clusters, make it likely that these sources are caused by accretion onto a white dwarf in a compact binary system. The luminosity function for these sources is consistent with that of galactic plane cataclysmic variables. An extrapolation of the X-ray luminosity function to L/sub x/< or approx. =10/sup 31/ ergs s/sup -1/ indicates that a typical globular cluster contains approx.10/sup 1.3/ white dwarf binaries. Assuming that these binaries form via the tidal capture (two-body) mechanism, the number of white dwarfs in a typical cluster must be approx.10/sup 4.1/; this is consistent with globular cluster mass functions.
- OSTI ID:
- 5911065
- Journal Information:
- Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States), Vol. 267:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
WHITE DWARF STARS
STAR CLUSTERS
BINARY STARS
LUMINOSITY
STAR ACCRETION
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
DWARF STARS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
640103* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources- (-1987)
640102 - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources