In some BHXBs, the X-ray emission shows a peculiar behavior known as "outliers". Outliers are characterized by sudden and significant increases in the X-ray flux, which can last for a few hours to a few days.
The origin of outliers has been a matter of debate for several years. Some researchers have suggested that outliers are caused by instabilities in the accretion disk, while others have proposed that they are due to changes in the magnetic field of the black hole.
A recent study by researchers from the University of Alberta has shed new light on the origin of outliers. The researchers analyzed data from a number of BHXBs and found that outliers are most likely caused by changes in the mass flow rate from the companion star.
The researchers found that when the mass flow rate from the companion star increases, the accretion disk becomes more dense and the X-ray emission increases. This increase in X-ray emission is what causes the outliers.
The study also found that the duration of outliers is related to the mass flow rate from the companion star. The higher the mass flow rate, the longer the duration of the outliers.
This study provides important new insights into the origin of outliers in BHXBs. It shows that outliers are caused by changes in the mass flow rate from the companion star, and that the duration of outliers is related to the mass flow rate.
