RITTERLMXB - Ritter Low-Mass X-Ray Binaries Catalog (7th Edition, Rev. 7.21)

Overview

This HEASARC database table contains information on low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) only, as taken from the Catalog of Cataclysmic Binaries, Low-Mass X-ray Binaries, and Related Objects (7th Edition, Release 7.21, March 2014) of Ritter & Kolb. The complete catalog lists coordinates, apparent magnitudes, orbital parameters, stellar parameters of the components, and other characteristic properties of 1166 cataclysmic binaries, 105 low-mass X-ray binaries, and 500 related objects with known or suspected orbital periods. The HEASARC has for simplicity split this catalog into three Browse database tables, one for each class of objects: the present table (RITTERLMXB) containing the low-mass X-ray binaries' data, a second one (RITTERCV) containing cataclysmic binaries' data, and a third one (RITTERRBIN) containing the related binaries' data. The literature published before 1 January 2014 has, as far as possible, been taken into account.

Low-mass X-ray binaries are semi-detached binaries consisting of either a neutron star or a black hole primary, and a low-mass secondary which is filling its critical Roche lobe.

Catalog Bibcode

2003A&A...404..301R

References

Catalogue of cataclysmic binaries, low-mass X-ray binaries
and related objects (7th Edition, Release 7.21, March 2014)
     Ritter H., Kolb U.
    <Astron. Astrophys. 404, 301 (2003)>
    =2003A&A...404..301R

Provenance

This table was last updated by the HEASARC in April 2014 based on the lmxbdata.dat file from the CDS Catalog B/cb.

Parameters

Name
The name of the low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB). Wherever possible, the designation of the object given in the General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS) is used.

Alt_Name
A frequently used alternative name of the low-mass X-ray binary.

RA
The Right Ascension in the specified equinox. The RA was given in the J2000 equinox in the originating table, to a precision of 0.1 seconds of time, except in a few cases where the precision was only 1 second of time.

Dec
The Declination in the specified equinox. The declination was given in the J2000 equinox in the originating table, to a precision of 1 arcsecond.

LII
The Galactic Longitude of the object.

BII
The Galactic Latitude of the object.

Acc_Pos
The estimated accuracy of the position in arcseconds. If the positional error is larger than 9 arcseconds, this field is left blank. The letter 'P' indicates an object with a large proper motion.

Type1
The object type as coarsely characterized using the following abbreviations:

      AS = atoll source, subtype of the LMXBs
      BH = black hole candidate, subtype of the LMXBs
      BO = X-ray burster with coherent burst oscillations at the neutron
           star spin period
      DC = source with an accretion disc corona, subtype of the LMXBs
      EG = extragalactic source
      GC = source in a globular cluster
      MQ = microquasar, source of relativistic jets
      NS = system showing negative (nodal) superhumps
      QN = quiescent neutron star LMXB
      RP = primary is also seen as a radio pulsar
      SH = system showing either permanent or transient superhumps
      SS = supersoft X-ray source
      SX = ?
      UL = ultra-luminous X-ray source
      XB = X-ray burst source
      XP = X-ray pulsar
      XT = transient X-ray source
      ZS = Z-source, subtype of the LMXBs

Type1_Flag
An uncertainty flag ('?') for the object type parameter Type1.

Type2
The object type as coarsely characterized using the same abbreviations as for the parameter Type1.

Type2_Flag
An uncertainty flag ('?') for the object type parameter Type2.

Type3
The object type as coarsely characterized using the same abbreviations as for the parameter Type1.

Type3_Flag
An uncertainty flag ('?') for the object type parameter Type3.

Type4
The object type as coarsely characterized using the same abbreviations as for the parameter Type1.

Type4_Flag
An uncertainty flag ('?') for the object type parameter Type4.

Lim_Mag1
A limit flag ('>' or '<') for the magnitude parameter Mag1.

Mag1
The apparent V (or U, B, g, R, I, i, or K, if so specified by the mag1_flag parameter) magnitude at maximum brightness of the LMXB, or in quiescence in the case of objects of type XT.

Mag1_Flag
This can be either an uncertainty flag for the parameter Mag1 (':') or, if set to 'U', 'B', 'g', 'R', 'I', 'i', 'J', or 'K', an indicator that Mag1 is the apparent magnitude in the quoted band, rather than the apparent V magnitude.

Lim_Mag2
A limit flag ('>' or '<') for the magnitude parameter Mag2.

Mag2
The apparent V (or B, R, I or K, if so specified) magnitude at minimum brightness or, in the case of eclipses, the magnitude at mid-eclipse, or, in the case of objects of type XT, the magnitude in quiescence.

Mag2_Flag
This can be either an uncertainty flag for the parameter Mag2 (':') or, if set to 'B', 'R', 'I', 'J' or 'K', an indicator that Mag2 is the apparent magnitude in the quoted band, rather than the apparent V magnitude.

Mag3
The apparent V (or B, R, or I, if so specified) magnitude at maximum brightness, or, in the case of objects of type XL (XB, XT), in outburst.

Mag3_Flag
This can be either an uncertainty flag for the parameter Mag3 (':') or, if set to 'B' or 'R' or 'I' or 'g', an indicator that Mag3 is the apparent B, R, I, or g (respectively) magnitude rather than the apparent V magnitude.

Lim_Mag4
A limit flag ('>' or '<') for the magnitude parameter Mag4.

Mag4
The apparent V (or other) magnitude at superoutburst, or in the case of LMXBs of types XB or XT, in outburst.

Mag4_Flag
This can be either an uncertainty flag for the parameter Mag4 (':') or, if set to 'R', an indicator that Mag4 is the apparent R magnitude rather than the apparent V magnitude.

Lim_Lx_Lopt
A limit flag ('>' or '<') for the magnitude parameter lx_lopt, the ratio of X-ray to optical luminosity.

Lx_Lopt
The ratio of X-ray to optical luminosity.

Interval
The typical time interval, in days, between two subsequent X-ray active states in the case of objects of subtype XT.

Orbital_Period
The orbital period, in days.

Orbital_Period_Flag
This is an uncertainty flag for the orbital period.

Period2
The second period, in days. This is, in the case of objects of type SH, the photometric period, presumably the superhump period of either permanent or transient superhumps.

Period2_Flag
An uncertainty flag for Period2 (the second period).

Period3
An additional period in the system, in seconds. This is, in the case of objects of type XP, the pulse period of the pulsar, while in the case of objects of type BO, it is the period of the burst oscillations, i.e., the rotation period of the neutron star.

Period3_Flag
An uncertainty flag for Period3 (the third period).

Period4
An additional period in the system, in seconds. This is, in the case of objects of type XP, the optical period, presumably due to processed X-rays.

Eclipse
A flag indicating the occurrence of eclipses as follows:

            =  : (blank) no eclipses observed.
            =1 : 1 eclipse per orbital revolution observed.
            =2 : 2 eclipses per orbital revolution observed.
            =D : periodic eclipse-like dips observed.

The addition of a '?' indicates there is some uncertainty.

SB
A flag specifying the type of spectroscopic binary as follows:

           SB=1: single-line spectroscopic binary
           SB=2: double-line spectroscopic binary

Spect_Type_2
The spectral type of the secondary given in the format of [Spectral class/Luminosity class], where the usual roman numerals for the latter are replaced by the corresponding Arabic numerals, i.e. I = 1, II = 2, III = 3, IV = 4, V = 5, VI = 6.

Spect_Type_1
The spectral type of the primary given in the format of [Spectral class/Luminosity class], where the usual roman numerals for the latter are replaced by the corresponding Arabic numerals, i.e. I = 1, II = 2, III = 3, IV = 4, V = 5, VI = 6.

Lim_Mass_Ratio
A limit flag for the mass ratio of the primary to secondary (M1/M2).

Mass_Ratio
The mass ratio of the primary to secondary (M1/M2).

Mass_Ratio_Flag
An uncertainty flag for the mass ratio of the primary to secondary (M1/M2).

Mass_Ratio_Error
The error in the mass ratio of the primary to secondary (M1/M2).

Lim_Inclination
A limit flag for the orbital inclination.

Inclination
The orbital inclination of the system, in degrees.

Inclination_Flag
An uncertainty flag for the orbital inclination.

Inclination_Error
The error in the orbital inclination, in degrees.

Lim_M1
A limit flag for the primary mass (M1).

M1
The primary mass (M1), in solar masses.

M1_Flag
An uncertainty flag for the primary mass (M1).

M1_Error
The error in the primary mass (M1), in solar masses.

Lim_M2
A limit flag for the secondary mass (M2).

M2
The secondary mass (M2), in solar masses.

M2_Flag
An uncertainty flag for the secondary mass (M2).

M2_Error
The error in the secondary mass (M2), in solar masses.

Class
The HEASARC Browse object classification, based on the value of the Type1 parameter.

Contact Person

Questions regarding the RITTERLMXB database table can be addressed to the HEASARC Help Desk.

Page Author: Browse Software Development Team
Last Modified: Monday, 16-Sep-2024 17:33:47 EDT