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

 a, b,  a, b
a Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya str. 84/32, Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation
b Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Karl-Schwarzschild-Str. 1, Garching, 85741, Germany

Observations of low-mass X-ray binaries in our and external galaxies have drawn attention to the accretion disc boundary layer where the accreting matter is slowed down from its Keplerian orbital velocity of about half of the speed of light to the 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 levitating spreading layer, which assumes the accreting matter to slow down while spreading over the neutron star surface.

Fulltext pdf (332 KB)
Fulltext is also available at DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.0184.201404e.0409
PACS: 97.10.Gz, 97.60.Jd, 97.80.−d (all)
DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.0184.201404e.0409
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2014/4/f/
000338713200005
2-s2.0-84903952053
2014PhyU...57..377G
Citation: Gilfanov M R, Sunyaev R A "Radiation-dominated boundary layer between an accretion disc and the surface of a neutron star: theory and observations" Phys. Usp. 57 377–388 (2014)
BibTexBibNote ® (generic) BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks
TY JOUR
TI Radiation-dominated boundary layer between an accretion disc and the surface of a neutron star: theory and observations
AU Gilfanov, M. R.
AU Sunyaev, R. A.
PB Physics-Uspekhi
PY 2014
JO Physics-Uspekhi
JF Physics-Uspekhi
JA Phys. Usp.
VL 57
IS 4
SP 377-388
UR https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2014/4/f/
ER https://doi.org/10.3367/UFNe.0184.201404e.0409

Received: 17th, January 2014, revised: 24th, February 2014, 25th, February 2014

Оригинал: Гильфанов М Р, Сюняев Р А «Радиационно-доминированный пограничный слой между аккреционным диском и поверхностью нейтронной звезды: теория и наблюдения» УФН 184 409–422 (2014); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0184.201404e.0409

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