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Paper: Detecting donor star signatures in low mass X-ray binaries
Volume: 470, 370 Years of Astronomy in Utrecht
Page: 263
Authors: Cornelisse, R.
Abstract: Here I present an overview of the Bowen survey of low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). The Bowen fluorescence technique uses the fact that narrow emission lines arise on the surface of the irradiated donor of LMXBs, making possible to derive a radial velocity curve and thereby constrain the mass of the compact object. I will concentrate on the main results of the last ≃4 years, and provide an example that illustrates the validity of the technique (EXO 0748–676). Furthermore I will also illustrate where the results were limited (SAX J1808.4–3658) or did not work. Finally, now that the Bowen fluorescence technique has been applied to most of the optically bright X-ray binaries I will point out several new paths to pursue in the future.
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