What Does HMXB Stand For?

HMXB stands for High Mass X Ray Binaries

HMXB, or High Mass X-Ray Binaries, refers to a specific class of binary star systems that consist of a massive star, typically greater than 10 solar masses, and a compact companion, such as a neutron star or black hole. In these systems, the gravitational pull of the compact object extracts material from the massive star, leading to the formation of an accretion disk. This process generates intense X-ray emissions, making HMXBs significant for the study of stellar evolution, supernovae, and high-energy astrophysics. They offer valuable insights into the interactions between massive stars and compact objects, as well as the dynamics of stellar evolution in dense environments.