States and transitions in X-ray binaries

7 Sept 2026, 16:30
30m
Cefalù

Cefalù

Cefalù, province of Palermo, Sicily. Sala delle Capriate in the Town Hall (Piazza Duomo).

Speaker

Nathalie Degenaar (University of Amsterdam)

Description

X-ray binaries exhibit a rich phenomenology of accretion states and transitions, linking changes in the accretion flow to the production of jets, winds, and high-energy emission across a wide range of timescales. In this talk, I will review our current understanding of accretion states and state transitions in neutron star and black hole X-ray binaries, highlighting recent observational insights into accretion–outflow coupling, source diversity, and unusual behaviour that challenge classification schemes. I will conclude by discussing how current and upcoming facilities promise new opportunities to connect states and transitions to the physical processes that drive them.

Author

Nathalie Degenaar (University of Amsterdam)

Presentation materials

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