Formation and evolution of X-ray binaries

The existence of X-ray binaries and binary radio pulsars shows that binary systems can, under certain circumstances, survive the supernova explosion of one of the components. In the case of massive X-ray binaries this survival is a clear consequence of the large-scale mass transfer which precedes the supernova explosion of the initially more-massive component of the system, such that at the moment of the explosion this star has become the less massive of the two. Explosive mass ejection from the less-massive component will in general not lead to disruption of the system. In the case of low-mass X-ray binaries it is much more difficult to see why the systems were not disrupted. This chapter explores how the various types of binaries that contain compact objects may have formed. (author)