high-mass x-ray binary


high-mass x-ray binary

[¦hī‚mas ¦eks‚rā′bī‚ner·ē] (astronomy) A binary system consisting of a massive (greater than 5 solar masses), early-type star and a neutron star or black hole that accretes material through a stellar wind or Roche-lobe overflow, resulting in the emission of hard x-rays. Abbreviated HMXRB.