Multi-wavelength study of high mass X-ray binaries

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Abstract

The INTEGRAL satellite has revealed a major population of supergiant High Mass X-ray Binaries in our Galaxy, revolutionizing our understanding of binary systems and their evolution. This population, constituted of a compact object orbiting around a massive and luminous supergiant star, exhibits unusual properties, either being extremely absorbed, or showing very short and intense flares. An intensive set of multi-wavelength observations has led us to reveal their nature, and to show that these systems are wind-fed accretors, closely related to massive star-forming regions. In this paper I describe the characteristics of these sources, showing that this newly revealed population is closely linked to the evolution of active and massive OB stars with a compact companion. The last section emphasizes the formation and evolution of such High Mass X-ray Binaries hosting a supergiant star.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInternational Conference on Binaries - In Celebration of Ron Webbink's 65th Birthday
PublisherAmerican Institute of Physics Inc.
Pages277-284
Number of pages8
ISBN (Print)9780735408692
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2010
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Volume1314
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Keywords

  • X-ray binaries
  • supergiant stars

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