Observational Evidence for Stellar Mass Black Holes

Abstract. I review the evidence for stellar mass black holes in the Galaxy. The unique properties of the soft X-ray transient (SXTs) have provided the first opportunity for detailed studies of the mass-losing star in low-mass X-ray binaries. The large mass functions of these systems imply that the compact object has a mass greater than the maximum mass of a neutron star, strengthening the case that they contain black holes. The results and techniques used are discussed. I also review the recent study of a comparison of the luminosities of black hole and neutron star systems which has yielded compelling evidence for the existence of event horizons. Key words. X-ray sources—black holes