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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 August 2017
Massive X-ray binaries may be powered by two mechanisms generating X-radiation: accretion of stellar wind material of the O-star, or Roche lobe overflow (RLOF). The evolution of RLOF powered X-ray binaries has been studied by Savonije (1978). For massive binaries the duration of the RLOF powered stage is less than 100 years for binaries evolving through case B of mass transfer, and 5000 to 10 000 years for case A. On this basis Savonije concluded that the majority of the X-ray binaries should evolve through case A of mass transfer, in order to explain the observed number of active sources in massive binaries. In this study we compute the transition from compact+P systems into X-ray binaries, with emphasis on the wind powered stage.