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[116.15] X-ray Binary Luminosity Functions and the Star-Formation History of Nearby Galaxies

R.E. Kilgard (SAO/University of Leicester), A.H. Prestwich (SAO), M.J. Ward (University of Leicester)

We present results on the X-ray binary luminosity functions (LFs) of nearby galaxies. Using X-ray color sorting techniques and variability properties, we remove candidate supernova remnants and background AGN from the LFs to examine the uncontaminated binary population. By comparing the LFs of X-ray binaries in elliptical, spiral, and starburst galaxies, we demonstrate that one can clearly distinguish between the young and old binary populations. This may provide a powerful new diagnostic of the star-formation history of galaxies that can be spatially resolved with Chandra.

This work is supported by NASA contract NAS 8-39073 and grants GO1-2092A and GO3-4106X.

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