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Concept information

Preferred term

low-mass X-ray binary  

Definition

  • A low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) is a binary star system where one of the components is either a black hole or neutron star. The other component, a donor, usually fills its Roche lobe and therefore transfers mass to the compact star. In LMXB systems the donor is less massive than the compact object, and can be on the main sequence, a degenerate dwarf (white dwarf), or an evolved star (red giant). Approximately two hundred LMXBs have been detected in the Milky Way, and of these, thirteen LMXBs have been discovered in globular clusters. The Chandra X-ray Observatory has revealed LMXBs in many distant galaxies. (Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_binary#Low-mass_X-ray_binary)

Broader concept

Entry terms

  • LMXB
  • low-mass X-ray binary star

In other languages

URI

http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/MDL-R335T728-3

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