Catalogue of high-mass X-ray binaries in the Galaxy (4th edition)

¹ Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, PR China e-mail: qliu@science.uva.nl
² Sterrenkundig Instituut “Anton Pannekoek”, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Kruislaan 403, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Received: 9 February 2006
Accepted: 18 April 2006

Abstract

We present a new edition of the catalogue of high-mass X-ray binaries in the Galaxy. The catalogue contains source name(s), coordinates, finding chart, X-ray luminosity, system parameters, and stellar parameters of the components and other characteristic properties of 114 high-mass X-ray binaries, together with a comprehensive selection of the relevant literature. The aim of this catalogue is to provide the reader with some basic information on the X-ray sources and their counterparts in other wavelength ranges (γ-rays, UV, optical, IR, radio). About 60% of the high-mass X-ray binary candidates are known or suspected Be/X-ray binaries, while 32% are supergiant/X-ray binaries. Some sources, however, are only tentatively identified as high-mass X-ray binaries on the basis of their X-ray properties similar to the known high-mass X-ray binaries. Further identification in other wavelength bands is needed to finally determine the nature of these sources. In cases where there is some doubt about the high-mass nature of the X-ray binary this is mentioned. Literature published before 1 October 2005 has, as far as possible, been taken into account.