Supergiant Fast X-ray Transients: a Review

Abstract

We review the status of our knowledge on supergiant fast X-ray transients (SFXTs), a new hot topic in multi wavelength studies of binaries. We discuss the mechanisms believed to power these transients and then highlight the unique contribution Swift is giving to this field, and how new technology complements and sometimes changes the view of things.

Invited Talk presented at the "Frascati Workshop 2009: Multifrequency behaviour of High Energy Cosmic Sources" (Vulcano, May 25 - 30, 2009)

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• Superorbital Periodic Modulation in Wind-Accretion High-Mass X-ray Binaries from Swift BAT Observations
• Two fast X-ray transients in archival Chandra data
• Cumulative luminosity distributions of Supergiant Fast X-ray Transients in hard X-rays
• High proper motion X-ray binaries from the Yale Southern Proper Motion Survey
• An Optical and Infrared Time-Domain Study of the Supergiant Fast X-ray Transient Candidate IC 10 X-2