X-Ray binary

An artist's impression of an X-ray binary system

An X-ray binary is a type of binary star system that has a star, called a donor (usually a main sequence star) and an accretor (either a neutron star or a black hole). The donor gives matter to the accretor. The systems are luminous in X-rays which are formed from the matter falling from the donor.

Classification

X-ray binaries are subdivided into several subclasses. They include:

• Low-mass X-ray binary (LMXBs)

• Soft X-ray transients (SXTs)

• Symbiotic X-ray binary

• Super soft X-ray sources (SSXs)

• Accreting millisecond X-ray pulsars (AMXPs)

• Intermediate-mass X-ray binary (IMXBs)

• Be/X-ray binary (BeXRBs)

• Supergiant X-ray binary (SGXBs)

• Supergiant fast X-ray transients (SFXTs)

List of X-ray binary systems

• 3XMM J004232.1+411314

• 4U 0614+091

• 4U 1543-475

• 4U 1700-37

• A0620-00

• Aquila X-1

• HD 8358

• BP Crucis

• Centaurus X-3

• Circinus X-1

• Cygnus X-1

• UY Volantias

• GX 339-4

• Hercules X-1

• IGR J17329-2731

• OAO 1657-415

• UW Coronae borealis

• V404 Cygni

• V4641 Sagittarii

• Vela X-1

• X Persei

• XTE J1118+480

• XTE J1550-564

• GRO J1719-24

• GRS 1915+105

• GS 2000+25

• The Bursting Pulsar (GRO J1744-28)

• The Black widow pulsar (PSR B1957+20)

• PSR J0952-0607

• M51-ULS-1