Correlated X-ray and Optical Variability in X-ray Binaries

Abstract

It has long been known that X-ray and optical/UV variability in active X-ray binaries is sometimes correlated. The expectation has been that this arises from rapid reprocessing of X-rays into longer wavelength photons, and hence that the lags between the bandpasses can be used to reconstruct an echo-map of the binary, revealing the geometry and spatial scale of reprocessing sites. I will review how this can be done, what can be learned, and what progress has been made with real data. In addition, an interesting twist to the story has emerged in the form of correlated variability that does not seem associated with reprocessing. This extends to very short timescales, includes quasi-periodic behavior, and may be associated with optical synchrotron emission from a jet. Finally, contrary to expectations we have recently discovered that similar correlations are seen even in an ostensibly `quiescent' object allowing similar analyses of reprocessing effects.