The Globular Cluster - Low Mass X-Ray Binary Connection and its Implications

Low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) are among the most visible tracers of
neutron stars and black holes. The Chandra and XMM telescopes have
discovered large populations of LMXBs in nearby galaxies. Remarkably, nearly
half of the LMXBs are associated with globular clusters, implicating the
dynamical environment of these dense stellar systems. The specific
characteristics of individual globular clusters, such as metallicity and
age, and the wide range of globular cluster properties in these galaxies
provide a unique window into the formation and evolutionary histories of
LMXBs. I will present the results of some of our recent studies of the
LMXB-globular cluster connection in nearby galaxies, including the discovery
of the first confirmed black hole X-ray binaries in globular clusters. The
study of such a large population of globular clusters and LMXBs (both
neutron star and black hole accretors) has led to the discovery of some
unusual objects and also revealed interesting new correlations between the
properties of X-ray binaries and their host stellar systems. I will discuss
some of the implications of our results on the formation and evolution of
LMXBs, globular clusters, and galaxies.