Speaker
Alexander Lutovinov
(Space Research Institute)
Description
Review of the most prominent results obtained with the INTEGRAL observatory for high-mass X-ray binary systems (HMXBs) is presented. Hard X-ray observations by INTEGRAL have broadened significantly our knowledge about X-ray binaries in the Milky Way. During dozen years the observatory discovered new types and populations of binary systems, like supergiant fast x-ray transients, heavily obscured sources, has permitted the studies of cyclotron resonance scattering features with the high resolution for several persistent and transient pulsars. The unique characteristics of INTEGRAL in a combination with its long life time as well as deep observations of the Galactic plane played a fundamental role for building a complete catalogue of HXMBs, to study the different populations of these systems in our Galaxy, to measure their spatial distribution and luminosity function and to constrain some of the time scales and processes driving their birth and evolution.
Author
Alexander Lutovinov
(Space Research Institute)
Co-authors
Enrico Bozzo
(University of Geneva)
Roland Walter
(University of Geneva)
Dr
Sergey Tsygankov
(Tuorla Observatory, University of Turku)
