Using SKA to observe relativistic jets from X-ray binary systems

I briefly outline our current observational understanding of the relativistic jets observed from X-ray binary systems, and how their study may shed light on analogous phenomena in Active Galactic Nuclei and Gamma Ray Bursts. How SKA may impact on this field is sketched, including the routine tracking of relativistic ejections to large distances from the binaries, detecting and monitoring the radio counterparts to 'quiescent' black holes, and detecting the radio counterparts of the brightest X-ray binaries throughout the Local Group of galaxies.Comment: To appear in "Science with the Square Kilometer Array," eds. C. Carilli and S. Rawlings, New Astronomy Reviews (Elsevier: Amsterdam

'Disc-jet' coupling in black hole X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei

In this chapter I will review the status of our phenomenological understanding of the relation between accretion and outflows in accreting black hole systems. This understanding arises primarily from observing the relation between X-ray and longer wavelength (infrared, radio) emission. The view is necessarily a biased one, beginning with observations of X-ray binary systems, and attempting to see if they match with the general observational properties of active galactic nuclei.Comment: 28 pages, 15 figures, To appear in Belloni, T. (ed.): The Jet Paradigm - From Microquasars to Quasars, Lect. Notes Phys. 794 (2009