Search results for "X ray binary stars"
showing 2 items of 2 documents
BVRI photometry of high-mass X-ray binaries
2015
We present photometric observations of the field around the optical counterparts of high-mass X-ray binaries. Our aim is to study the long-term photometric variability in correlation with their X-ray activity and derive a set of secondary standard stars that can be used for time series analysis. We find that the donors in Be/X-ray binaries exhibit larger amplitude changes in the magnitudes and colours than those hosting a supergiant companion. The amplitude of variability increases with wavelength in Be/X-ray binaries and remains fairly constant in supergiant systems. When time scales of years are considered, a good correlation between the X-ray and optical variability is observed. The X-ra…
Spectra of high-mass X-ray binaries
2016
High-mass X-ray binaries are bright X-ray sources. The high-energy emission is caused by the accretion of matter from the massive companion onto a neutron star. The accreting material comes from either the strong stellar wind in binaries with supergiant companions or the circumstellar disk in Be/X-ray binaries. In either case, the H{alpha} line stands out as the main source of information about the state of the accreting material. We present the results of our monitoring program to study the long-term variability of the H{alpha} line in high-mass X-ray binaries. Our aim is to characterise the optical variability timescales and study the interaction between the neutron star and the accreting…