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UFN, 2014 Volume 184, Number 4, Pages 409–422 (Mi ufn4933)

This article is cited in 21 papers

Radiation-dominated boundary layer between an accretion disc and the surface of a neutron star: theory and observations

M. R. Gilfanovab, R. A. Sunyaevab

a Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow
b Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik

Abstract: Observations of low-mass X-ray binaries in our Galaxy and external galaxies have drawn attention to the accretion disc boundary layer where the accreting matter slows down from its Keplerian orbital velocity of about half of the speed of light to a neutron star's rotational velocity and in which it releases about half of its gravitational energy. Correspondingly, a hot spectral component appears in the emission of accreting neutron stars, which is absent in accreting black holes. We review different approaches to the problem of the radiation-dominated boundary layer. In particular, we consider the theory of a levitating spreading layer, which assumes that the accreting matter slows down while spreading over the neutron star surface.

PACS: 97.10.Gz, 97.60.Jd, 97.80.-d

Received: January 17, 2014
Revised: February 24, 2014
Accepted: February 25, 2014

DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0184.201404e.0409


 English version:
Physics–Uspekhi, 2014, 57:4, 377–388

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