Outbursts, State Transitions, and Periodicities Observed with the RXTE All-Sky Monitor

Abstract

Results from the All-Sky Monitor (ASM) on the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer are reviewed. A number of recurrent transient sources have been detected, while only a few previously unreported sources have been discovered. The ASM light curves show a wide variety of phenomena in general, and, in particular, those of transient sources show a wide range of properties. Examples are used to illustrate that the distinction between persistent and transient sources may be very unclear. The results of searches for periodicities in the ASM light curves are summarized, and other astrophysical investigations using ASM light curves are suggested. The latter include investigations of the possible causes of long-term quasiperiodic and chaotic variability, and comparative studies on the basis of the observed variability.