X-ray bursts and superbursts - recent developments

TL;DR

Recent advances in X-ray burst research include the discovery of new phenomena like superbursts and burst oscillations, with ongoing efforts to understand their ignition mechanisms and neutron star parameters, aided by MAXI observations.

Contribution

The paper reviews recent developments in X-ray burst research, highlighting new phenomena, regimes of thermonuclear burning, and the potential of MAXI for studying rare superbursts.

Findings

Discovery of burst oscillations and superbursts

Identification of new thermonuclear burning regimes

Potential of MAXI to observe rare long-duration bursts

Abstract

The past decade and a half has seen many interesting new developments in X-ray burst research, both observationally and theoretically. New phenomena were discovered, such as burst oscillations and superbursts, and new regimes of thermonuclear burning identified. An important driver of the research with present and future instrumentation in the coming years is the pursuit of fundamental neutron star parameters. However, several other more direct questions are also in dire need of an answer. For instance, how are superbursts ignited and why do burst oscillations exist in burst tails? We briefly review recent developments and discuss the role that MAXI can play. Thanks to MAXI's large visibility window and large duty cycle, it is particularly well suited to investigate the recurrence of rare long duration bursts such as superbursts. An exploratory study of MAXI data is briefly presented.