Ultraluminous X-ray sources

New Astronomy Reviews, vol. 96, pp. 101672

Abstract

The study of ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) has changed dramatically over the last decade. In this review we first describe the most important observations of ULXs in various wavebands, and across multiple scales in space and time. We discuss recent progress and current unanswered questions. We consider the range of current theories of ULX properties in the light of this observational progress. Applying these models to neutron-star ULXs offers particularly stringent tests, as this is the unique case where the mass of the accretor is effectively fixed.

Authors 3

1. Andrew R. King Aachen Leiden Observatory

   Leiden University · University of Amsterdam · University of Leicester · Leiden Observatory

   Affiliation as printed

   Astronomical Institute Anton Pannekoek, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, Netherlands

   Astrophysics Division, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK

   Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Niels Bohrweg 2, NL-2333 CA Leiden, Netherlands

2. J. P. Lasota

   Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Polish Academy of Sciences · Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris, CNRS et Sorbonne Université, UMR 7095, 98bis Bd Arago, 75014 Paris, France

   Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Bartycka 18, 00-716 Warsaw, Poland

   Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, CNRS et Sorbonne Université, UMR 7095, 98bis Bd Arago, 75014 Paris, France

3. Matthew J. Middleton corresponding

   University of Southampton

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK