2001/08/14 by Pranab Ghosh, Nicholas E. White · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/323641
16 pages, 2 Figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters
arxiv created 2001/08/14 · openalex publication_date 2001/10/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
We discuss the imprints left by a cosmological evolution of the star formation rate (SFR) on the evolution of X-ray luminosities L X of normal galaxies, using the scheme earlier proposed by us, wherein the evolution of L X of a galaxy is driven by the evolution of its X-ray binary population. As indicated in our earlier work, the profile of L X with redshift can both serve as a diagnostic probe of the SFR profile and constrain evolutionary models for X-ray binaries. We report here the first calculation of the expected evolution of X-ray luminosities of galaxies, updating our work by using a suite of more recently developed SFR profiles that span the currently plausible range. The first Chandra deep imaging results on L X evolution are beginning to probe the SFR profile of bright spiral galaxies; the early results are consistent with predictions based on current SFR models. Using these new SFR profiles, the resolution of the "birthrate problem" of low-mass X-ray binaries and recycled, millisecond pulsars in terms of an evolving global SFR is more complete. We discuss the possible impact of the variations in the SFR profile of individual galaxies and galaxy types.