Relativistic outflows from X-ray binaries (a.k.a. `Microquasars')
Abstract
In this review I summarise the observational connections between accretion and relativistic outflows -- jets -- in X-ray binaries. I argue that jets are likely to be a fairly ubiquitous property of X-ray binaries as a whole, an assertion which can be tested by further observations of the Atoll-type X-ray binaries. I discuss broad patterns that are emerging from these observational studies, such as a correlation between `hard' X-ray states and the presence of radio emission, and the related anti-correlation between jet strength and mass-accretion rate as inferred from X-ray studies alone. I briefly discuss possible future directions for research and compare X-ray binary jets to those from Active Galactic Nuclei and Gamma Ray Bursts.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/0109502,
title = {Relativistic outflows from X-ray binaries (a.k.a. `Microquasars')},
author = {Rob Fender},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/0109502},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
To appear in "Relativistic flows in Astrophysics", Springer Verlag Lecture Notes in Physics, Eds A.W. Guthmann, M. Georganopoulos, K. Manolakou and A. Marcowith