Radiative processes, spectral states and variability of black-hole binaries

Andrzej A. Zdziarski (Lead / Corresponding author), Marek Gierliński

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

256 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We review radiative processes responsible for X-ray emission in hard (low) and soft (high) spectral states of black-hole binaries. The main process in the hard state appears to be scattering of blackbody photons from a cold disk by thermal electrons in a hot inner flow, and any contribution from nonthermal synchrotron emission is at most small. In the soft states, blackbody disk emission dominates energetically, and its high-energy tail is due to scattering by hybrid, thermal/nonthermal electrons, probably in active regions above the disk surface. State transitions appear to correspond to a variable inner radius of the cold disk driven by changes of the accretion rate. The existence of two accretion solutions, hot and cold, in a range of the accretion rate leads to hysteresis in low-mass X-ray binaries.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)99-119
Number of pages21
JournalProgress of Theoretical Physics Supplements
Volume155
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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