MG11 
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Abstract

Arguments for and against the intermediate mass black holes in ULXs

Ultra-luminous X-ray sources (ULXs) are the most luminous off-nuclear, point X-ray sources in galaxies. Their apparent X-ray luminosity is well in excess of the Eddington limit for a stellar mass black hole. The nature of the compact accretors in ULXs has remained controversial due to the lack of reliable mass measurements. ULXs may be intermediate mass black holes with sub Eddington accretion or stellar mass black holes with apparent or genuine super Eddington emission. I will discuss key observational results and their implications to the nature of ULXs.