Global Properties of Stellar X-Ray Sources in the Large Magellanic Cloud

X射线卫星发现了一个新的、常见的双星系统，在这个系统中，两颗恒星的质量都很低(与太阳相似)。它们的其他性质鲜为人知，很大程度上是因为它们距离太阳很远，而且方向被星际气体吸收，使得它们的真实亮度变得模糊。在以前的工作中，首席调查员(PI)已经发现了这些新的X射线源的光学对应物，并监测了它们的光学输出和径向速度，以更多地了解它们的二进制特性，使我们能够了解它们发出X射线的原因。在目前的三年研究中，PI将研究大麦哲伦星云(LMC)中这些天体的一个样本。因为这些源距离很远，所以它们的性质实际上可以比我们银河系中的那些更好地定义。这项工作预计将描绘出我们银河系和LMC中的X射线源之间的差异，例如在重金属含量方面的差异。圆周率探测器过去的工作导致了食双星中第一个黑洞的发现(导致了对黑洞质量的直接估计)。这项工作也有望澄清这些奇异物体的存在。

X-ray satellites have discovered a new and common group "binary" systems in which both stars have low (solar-like) masses. Other properties of them are poorly known largely because they are at great distances from the Sun and in directions where absorption by interstellar gas makes their true brightnesses and hence distances ambiguous. In previous work the Principal Investigator (PI) has discovered the optical counterparts to these new x-ray sources and has monitored their optical output and radial velocities to learn more about their binary characteristics that enable us to understand the reason for their x-ray emission. In the present three year study the PI will study a sample of these objects in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Because these sources are at a common distance their properties can actually be defined better than those in our own Galaxy. This work is expected to delineate differences between x-ray sources in our Galaxy and the LMC, for example, in terms of differences in heavy metal content. The PI's past work has led to the discovery of the first black-hole in an eclipsing binary (leading to a direct estimate of the mass of the black hole). This work is expected also to clarify the existence of these exotic objects.