Transient X-ray Binaries in Elliptical Galaxies

Abstract

Chandra observations of elliptical galaxies have revealed large numbers of Low Mass X-ray Binaries (LMXBs) accreting at rates above 10^-9 solar masses per year. One scenario which generates this transfer rate from an old stellar population is nuclear driven mass transfer onto a neutron star or black hole from a Roche lobe filling red giant. However, in our Galaxy, most of these systems accrete sporadically as transients due to a thermal instability in the accretion disk. Using the common criterion for disk instability (including irradiation), we find that this mode of mass transfer leads to transient accretion for at least 75% of the binary's life. Repeated Chandra observations of elliptical galaxies should reveal this population. The recurrence times might exceed 1000 years (depending on the orbital period at the onset of mass transfer), and outbursts might last for 1-100 years. Mass transfering binaries can also be formed in old populations via interactions in dense stellar environments, such as globular clusters. These tend to have shorter orbital periods and are more likely stable accretors, making them apparently a large fraction of the elliptical's LMXB population.