Review of X-Ray Bursters in the Galactic Center Region

Abstract

Results of observations of X-ray bursters in the Galactic Center region carried out with the RXTE observatory and the ART-P telescope on board GRANAT are presented. Eight X-ray bursters (A1742-294, SLX1744-299/300, GX3+1, GX354-0, SLX1732-304, 4U1724-307, KS1731-260) were revealed in this region during five series of observations which were performed with the ART-P telescope in 1990-1992 and more than 100 type I X-ray bursts from these sources were observed. For each of the sources we investigated in detail the recurrence times between bursts, the bursts time profiles and their dependence on the bursts flux, the spectral evolution of sources emission in the persistent state and during the bursts. Two bursters (SLX1732-304, 4U1724-307) located in the globular clusters Terzan 1 and 2, were investigated using the RXTE data as well.