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

M.R. Gilfanov^a, b, R.A. Sunyaev^a, b
^aSpace Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya str. 84/32, Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation
^bMax 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.

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/
Web of Science

000338713200005
Scopus

2-s2.0-84903952053
ADS NASA

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)

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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

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