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[73.04] X-rays from Transiently Accreting Neutron Stars in Globular Clusters

C. O. Heinke, J. E. Grindlay (Harvard University)

The Chandra X-ray Observatory has resolved hundreds of X-ray sources in Galactic globular clusters, allowing optical or radio counterpart identifications, and detailed spectral analyses of some objects. We discuss the population of quiescent low-mass X-ray binaries containing neutron stars discovered in globular clusters. These globular cluster systems, unlike the best-studied Galactic systems, usually show little or no X-ray emission from a hard nonthermal component. We also show that the globular cluster systems are produced through stellar encounters. Finally, we present new evidence from X-ray spectral fitting that the quiescent neutron star X7 in the cluster 47 Tucanae has a mass greater than 1.9 solar masses. This significantly constrains the physics of neutron star interiors. We thank our collaborators P. Edmonds, H. Cohn, P. Lugger, A. Cool, and D. Lloyd.

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35#5
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.