Einstein observations of high luminosity X-ray binaries

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Adv. Space Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6583781

Kahn, S M

Discoveries made with the Einstein observatory with regard to the structure of accreting matter in X-ray binary systems and the interaction of the accreting matter with the X-radiation emanating from the central compact object are discussed. These discoveries are: the presence of partial X-ray eclipses in two sources, 4U1822-37 and 4U2129+47, which are suggestive of extended X-ray emitting regions possibly associated with coronae above and below the accretion disk; periodic and quasi-periodic absorption dips in several sources likely to be associated with bulges in the accretion disk; absorption features in the X-ray spectrum of Scorpius X-1 indicative of anomalous abundance in the accreting matter. The observed absorption must be intrinsic to the source and implies the existence of substantial amounts of cool gas well out of the orbital plane of the system.

• Research Organization: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA
• OSTI ID: 6583781
• Report Number(s): CONF-820582-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Adv. Space Res.; (United States) Journal Volume: 2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCRETION DISKS
BINARY STARS
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
STAR ACCRETION
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS