Spatial distribution of luminous X-ray binaries in spiral galaxies

TL;DR

This study models the spatial distribution of luminous X-ray binaries in Milky Way-like spiral galaxies, revealing their concentration towards the galactic plane and bulge, and explores potential methods to distinguish between different galactic potential models.

Contribution

It introduces a population synthesis model for XRB distribution and compares effects of dark matter halo and modified Newtonian dynamics potentials.

Findings

XRBs concentrate towards the galactic plane and bulge

Distribution differences may help discriminate between galactic potential models

Model aligns with previous theoretical and observational expectations

Abstract

We have modelled the spatial distribution of luminous X-ray binaries (XRBs) in spiral galaxies that are like the Milky Way using an evolutionary population synthesis code. In agreement with previous theoretical expectations and observations, we find that both high- and low-mass XRBs show clear concentrations towards the galactic plane and bulge.We also compare XRB distributions under the galactic potential with a dark matter halo and the modified Newtonian dynamics potential, and we suggest that the difference may serve as potential evidence to discriminate between these two types of model.