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Modeling the X-ray Contribution of X-ray Binary Jets

S. Markoff·M. Nowak·S. Corbel·R. Fender·H. Falcke
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Abstract

Astrophysical jets exist in both XRBs and AGN, and seem to share common features, particularly in the radio. While AGN jets are known to emit X-rays, the situation for XRB jets is not so clear. Radio jets have been resolved in several XRBs in the low/hard state, establishing that some form of outflow is routinely present in this state. Interestingly, the flat-to-inverted radio synchrotron emission associated with these outflows strongly correlates with the X-ray emission in several sources, suggesting that the jet plasma plays a role at higher frequencies. In this same state, there is increasing evidence for a turnover in the IR/optical where the flat-to-inverted spectrum seems to connect to an optically thin component extending into the X-rays. We discuss how jet synchrotron emission is likely to contribute to the X-rays, in addition to inverse Compton up-scattering, providing a natural explanation for these correlations and the turnover in the IR/optical band. We present model parameters for fits to several sources, and address some common misconceptions about the jet model.

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S. Markoff, M. Nowak, S. Corbel, R. Fender, H. Falcke. 2003-01-23. Modeling the X-ray Contribution of X-ray Binary Jets. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1387-6473(03)00078-2

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