Seventeen years of hard X-ray observations with the instruments of the INTEGRAL observatory, with a focus on the Milky Way and in particular on the Galactic Centre region, have provided a unique database for exploration of the Galactic population of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). Our understanding of the diverse energetic phenomena associated with accretion of matter onto neutron stars and black holes has greatly improved. We review the large variety of INTEGRAL based results related to LMXBs. In particular, we discuss the spatial distribution of LMXBs over the Galaxy and their X-ray luminosity function as well as various physical phenomena associated with Atoll and Z sources, bursters, symbiotic X-ray binaries, ultracompact X-ray binaries and persistent black hole LMXBs. We also present an up-to-date catalogue of confirmed LMXBs detected by INTEGRAL, which comprises 166 objects. Last but not least, the long-term monitoring of the Galactic Centre with INTEGRAL has shed light on the activity of Sgr A* in the recent past, confirming previous indications that our supermassive black hole experienced a major accretion episode just ~100 years ago. This exciting topic is covered in this review too.

中文翻译：

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银河 LMXB 人口和银河中心区域

使用 INTEGRAL 天文台的仪器进行了 17 年的硬 X 射线观测，重点是银河系，特别是银河系中心区域，为探索银河系低质量 X 射线种群提供了一个独特的数据库二进制文件 (LMXB)。我们对与物质吸积到中子星和黑洞相关的各种高能现象的理解有了很大的提高。我们回顾了与 LMXB 相关的大量基于 INTEGRAL 的结果。特别是，我们讨论了 LMXB 在银河系上的空间分布及其 X 射线光度函数，以及与环礁和 Z 源、爆发、共生 X 射线双星、超紧凑 X 射线双星和持久性黑洞相关的各种物理现象LMXB。我们还提供了 INTEGRAL 检测到的已确认 LMXB 的最新目录，其中包括 166 个对象。最后但并非最不重要的是，INTEGRAL 对银河中心的长期监测揭示了最近 Sgr A* 的活动，证实了先前的迹象，即我们的超大质量黑洞在大约 100 年前经历了一次重大吸积事件。本评论也涵盖了这个令人兴奋的话题。