The sub-classes of ultraluminous X-ray sources

TL;DR

This paper reviews the classification of ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs), discussing their different sub-classes, potential origins, and future research directions to understand these enigmatic objects.

Contribution

It introduces and discusses the sub-classes of ULXs, highlighting their possible natures and proposing future steps for their analysis.

Findings

Identification of multiple ULX sub-classes

Potential links to different black hole masses

Suggestions for future observational strategies

Abstract

Ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) were an enigma since their discovery. ASCA showed that they are accreting black holes (BHs) with unknown mass, while Chandra & XMM data shows that the many of the lower luminosity ULXs can be explained by extreme accretion onto stellar remnant BHs. The discovery of hyperluminous X-ray sources has led to specu- lation that we may, once again, have found the elusive intermediate mass black holes, yet in the last year, a third sub-class of extreme ULXs has emerged, with their nature, as yet, un- known. Here we define and discuss the sub-classes of these fascinating systems, exploring possible explanations for their nature, and indicating possible future steps in their analysis.