The Galactic Bulge Survey: outline and X-ray observations
P.G. Jonker, C.G. Bassa, G. Nelemans, D. Steeghs, M.A.P. Torres, T.J., Maccarone, R.I. Hynes, S. Greiss, J. Clem, A. Dieball, V.J. Mikles, C.T., Britt, L. Gossen, A.C. Collazzi, R. Wijnands, J.J.M. In 't Zand, M. Mendez,, N. Rea, E. Kuulkers, E.M. Ratti, L.M. van Haaften

TL;DR
The Galactic Bulge Survey aims to identify and analyze X-ray sources in the Galactic Center region to understand compact object populations, formation scenarios, and mass distributions, using Chandra observations of a large sky area.
Contribution
This paper presents the survey design, initial Chandra source catalog, and analysis of X-ray source characteristics in the Galactic Bulge region.
Findings
Over 1200 X-ray sources identified so far.
Survey covers 8.3 square degrees with homogeneous depth.
Analysis of source variability and brightness.
Abstract
We introduce the Galactic Bulge Survey (GBS) and we provide the Chandra source list for the region that has been observed to date. Among the goals of the GBS are constraining the neutron star equation of state and the black hole mass distribution via the identification of eclipsing neutron star and black hole low-mass X-ray binaries. The latter goal will, in addition, be obtained by significantly enlarging the number of black hole systems for which a black hole mass can be derived. Further goals include constraining X-ray binary formation scenarios, in particular the common envelope phase and the occurrence of kicks, via source-type number counts and an investigation of the spatial distribution of X-ray binaries, respectively. The GBS targets two strips of 6x1 degrees (12 square degrees in total), one above (1<b<2 degrees) and one below (-2<b<-1 degrees) the Galactic plane in the…
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