Accretion and Ejection Physics at High Time Resolution

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in understanding accretion and ejection physics in compact objects, emphasizing the importance of high time resolution observations across multiple wavelengths for uncovering new phenomena.

Contribution

It highlights the potential of a dedicated multi-wavelength, high spectral resolution facility with photon-counting detectors to transform the study of accretion and outflows.

Findings

Sub-second optical-infrared observations reveal new inflow-outflow phenomena.

High spectral resolution observations can disentangle complex accretion processes.

Dedicated facilities could significantly advance the field.

Abstract

Accretion onto compact objects is one of the most fundamental phenomena in the astrophysics, powering some of the most luminous objects in the sky. Along with this, accretion has also a key impact on the evolution of the Universe, through the launch of powerful outflows that affect the surrounding medium. In the last years sub-second optical-infrared observations of accreting X-ray binaries have opened a new window in the study of inflow-outflow connection, discovering a wide range of previously unkown phenomena. Here we review the key open questions in accretion and ejection physics and discuss how a dedicated facility, equipped with photon-counting detectors and high spectral resolution from the UV to the mid-infrared, can enable transformative advances in our understanding of accretion processes.