Accretion disks in stellar X-ray sources

This review presents an introduction to the theory of accretion disks. After explaining the importance of accretion disks in stellar X-ray sources, it considers observational and theoretical indications of the formation of accretion disks in close binary systems. The simple Shakura and Sunyaev model and its problems are discussed. A survey of other models that try to improve upon this model is given (in Table III), and critically discussed.