On Be/X-ray binaries with an intermediate-mass black hole

Abstract

We adopt the tidal truncation model proposed by Negueruela and Okazaki for Be/X-ray binaries to investigate the influence of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) on Be-star disks. We show that the viscous decretion disks around Be stars are generally truncated ineffectively under the tidal force of IMBHs. Combining this with observations of Be/X-ray binaries, we suggest that Be/IMBH X-ray binaries may appear as recurrent luminous X-ray transients with quasi-periodic X-ray outbursts. © 2010 National Astronomical Observatories of Chinese Academy of Sciences and IOP Publishing Ltd.