Emission lines from X ray binaries

Abstract

Emission lines are probes of the conditions in the accretion flows associated with binary X-ray sources. The hard X-ray iron K line, soft X-ray lines, and UV lines, and what they indicate about the conditions in binary X-ray sources are discussed. These lines are interpreted using an X-ray illuminated accretion disk model. The structure and dynamics of the heated disk, its spectral signatures, and the major unsolved theoretical issues surrounding them are investigated.