Black Hole and Neutron Star Binaries in the Galactic Bulge Survey

罗伯特·海恩斯博士(路易斯安那州立大学)将进行一次广泛的成像和光谱测量，以确定钱德拉X射线天文台的银河系凸起调查探测到的X射线源的光学对应物。样本的大部分预计将是低质量的X射线双星；在这些系统中，中子星或黑洞正在从附近的伴星中剥离物质。该项目将大大增加具有已知性质的X射线双星系统的样本。其中一些可能是黯然失色的系统，这将提供对中子星和黑洞质量的重要估计。此外，该项目的数据将测试在不同恒星群中形成低质量X射线双星的模型。这项调查的数据将构成一篇博士论文的核心，并将分发给该社区，用于未来几个波长的后续调查。这项研究还将为本科生提供直接的研究经验。

Dr. Robert Hynes (Louisiana State University) will undertake an extensive imaging and spectroscopic survey to identify optical counterparts of X-ray sources detected by the Galactic Bulge Survey of the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Much of the sample is expected to be low-mass X-ray binaries; these are systems in which a neutron star or a black hole is stripping material from a nearby companion. The project will greatly increase the sample of X-ray binary systems with known properties. Some of these may be eclipsing systems, which would provide important estimates of neutron star and black hole masses. In addition, the data from this project will test models of the formation of low-mass X-ray binaries in different stellar populations.Data from this survey will form the core of a Ph.D. dissertation, and will be distributed to the community for future follow-up surveys at several wavelengths. The research will also provide undergraduate students with direct research experience.