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.

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