High-mass X-ray binary
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) is a binary star system where one of the components is a neutron star or a black hole. The other component is a massive star, usually a Be star or a blue supergiant. A fraction of the stellar wind of the companion star is captured by the compact star, and produces X-rays as it falls onto the compact object.
In a high-mass X-ray binary, the massive star dominates the emission of optical light, while the compact object is the dominant source of X-rays. The massive stars are very luminous and therefore easily detected. One of the most famous high-mass X-ray binaries is Cygnus X-1, which was the first stellar-mass black hole discovered.
[edit] See also
 |
This binary or multiple star system-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
