Bibcode
Casares, Jorge
Bibliographical reference
The Many Scales in the Universe: JENAM 2004 Astrophysics Reviews, Invited talks to the XIII JENAM (Joint European and National Astronomical Meeting), September 13-17, 2004, Granada, Spain. At the same time: 6th Scientific Meeting of the SEA (Sociedad Espanola de Astronomia) Edited by J. C. Del Toro Iniesta, E. J. Alfaro, J. G. Gorgas, E. Salvador-Sole, and H. Butcher. ISBN-10 1-4020-4351-1; ISBN-13 978-1-4020-2; E-books -- ISBN-10: 1-4020-4526-3; ISBN-13 978-1-4020-4526-4. CD-ROM contains the remaining contributions of the meeting in PDF format. Published by Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 2006, p.145
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1
2006
Citations
16
Refereed citations
15
Description
This review summarizes the observational constraints on the mass
spectrum of compact objects in X-ray binaries. We currently have 20
X-ray binaries with confirmed black holes, based on dynamical
information (i.e. mass in excess of 3 Msun). In two cases, V404 Cyg and
GRS 1915+105, the black hole mass exceeds the maximum predicted by
current Type Ib supernovae models and challenges black hole formation
scenarios. The great majority of black hole binaries are members of the
class of X-ray Transients, where long periods of quiescence enable
spectroscopic studies of the faint donor stars. On the other hand,
neutron star binaries are mostly found in persistent binaries, where
reprocessed light from the accretion disc overwhelms the companion star
and precludes mass estimates. New results, based on the detection of
optical fluorescent lines from the donor star and X-ray burst
oscillations, provide the best prospects for mass constraints of neutron
stars in persistent X-ray binaries.