Related papers: Small-scale structure deduced from X- and gamma-ra…
X-rays are a powerful probe of the physical conditions in the nuclei of active galaxies. We review the X-ray properties of radio-quiet AGN, LINERs and ultraluminous IR galaxies based on observations carried out with the X-ray satellite…
The theory of General Relativity has successfully passed a large number of observational tests. The theory has been extensively tested in the weak-field regime with experiments in the Solar System and observations of binary pulsars. The…
The analysis of the properties of the X-ray radiation emitted from geometrically thin accretion disks around black holes can be a powerful tool to test General Relativity in the strong field regime. This chapter reviews the state-of-the-art…
In this chapter, I present the main X-ray observational characteristics of black-hole binaries and low magnetic field neutron-star binaries, concentrating on what can be considered similarities or differences, with particular emphasis on…
Supernova remnants serve as nearby laboratories relevant to many areas in Astrophysics, from stellar and galaxy evolution to extreme astrophysics and the formation of the heavy elements in the Universe. The Chandra X-ray mission has enabled…
Many distinct classes of high-energy variability have been observed in astrophysical sources, on a range of timescales. The widest range (spanning microseconds-decades) is found in accreting, stellar-mass compact objects, including neutron…
The basic observed properties of neutron stars are reviewed. I suggest that neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries are the best of all known sites for testing strong-field effects of general relativity.
Long X-ray observations of bright Active Galactic Nuclei show that X-ray eclipses, with durations from a few hours to a few days, are rather common. This opens up a new window of opportunity in the search for signatures of relativistic…
The X-ray emission from accreting black-holes and neutron stars features strong variability on sub-second time scales, with very complex and broad phenomenology. From high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations to rapidly changing X-ray…
Estimations of magnetic fields of neutron stars, observed as radio and X-ray pulsars, are discussed. It is shown, that theoretical and observational values for different types of radiopulsars are in good correspondence. Magnetic fields of…
The first millisecond X-ray variability phenomena from accreting compact objects have recently been discovered with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. Three new phenomena are observed from low-mass X-ray binaries containing low-magnetic-field…
The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) satellite was launched on 30 December 1995. It has made substantial contributions pertaining to compact objects and their environs. Broad-band spectral and short-time-scale temporal studies are…
Recent X-ray observations have had a major impact on topics ranging from protostars to cosmology. They have also drawn attention to important and general physical processes that currently limit our understanding of thermal and nonthermal…
Neutron stars and black holes are the astrophysical systems with the strongest gravitational fields in the universe. In this article, I review the prospect of probing with observations of such compact objects some of the most intriguing…
The spectrum of the hard X-ray background records the history of accretion processes integrated over the cosmic time. Several observational and theoretical evidences indicate that a significant fraction of the energy density is obscured by…
X-ray polarimetry promises to give qualitatively new information about high-energy sources. Examples of interesting source classes are binary black hole systems, rotation and accretion powered neutron stars, Microquasars, Active Galactic…
Inspiralling binary systems of neutron stars or black holes are promising sources of gravitational radiation detectable by large-scale laser interferometric gravitational observatories, such as the US LIGO and Italian-French VIRGO projects.…
There is strong evidence for the existence of black holes(BHs) in some X-ray binaries and most galatic nuclei, based on different measuremental approaches, but black holes aren't finally identified for the lack of very firm observational…
There has never been a more exciting time in the overlapping areas of nuclear physics, particle physics and relativistic astrophysics than today. Orbiting observatories such as the Hubble Space Telescope, Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE),…
Spectroscopy of the broad iron iron with ASCA and BeppoSAX has up opened the innermost regions of accreting black hole systems to detailed study. In this contribution, I discuss how observations with future X-ray missions will extend these…