Abstract
DIFFERENT kinds of X-ray bursts, as observed from the rapid burster (MXB1730–335) (refs 1, 2) and from other sources3–5, can be classified into two types which, as we will show, may have different origins and production mechanisms. Type I bursts occur at intervals of hours, days or longer. Their spectra almost always soften during burst decay, and their average spectrum during the first few seconds of a burst is generally harder than the spectrum of the associated persistent X-ray emission (if present). Type II bursts occur at intervals of several seconds to minutes, and their spectra do not soften during burst decay. The rapid burster1–6 can produce up to several thousand type II bursts per day. Type II bursts may perhaps also be produced by other X-ray sources such as Cyg X-1 (ref. 7). Type I bursts are produced by all other burst sources reported so far3–5. Here we will show that the rapid burster also produces type I bursts.
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HOFFMAN, J., MARSHALL, H. & LEWIN, W. Dual character of the rapid burster and a classification of X-ray bursts. Nature 271, 630–633 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/271630a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/271630a0
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