The formation of black-holes in low-mass X-ray binaries

Abstract

We calculate the formation rates of low-mass X-ray binaries with a black hole. Both a semi-analytic and a more detailed model predict formation rates two orders of magnitude lower than derived from the observations. Solution of this conundrum requires either that stars with masses less than 20M${}_{\odot }$ can evolve into a black hole, or that stellar wind from a member of a binary is accompanied by a much larger loss of angular momentum than hitherto assumed.

6 pages, including 4 figures. accepted for publication in publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics

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