SIMBAD references

We apply the K-correction to the black hole low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) GX 339-4 which implies M_X≥ 6M_solar by only assuming that the companion is more massive than ∼0.17M_solar, the lower limit allowed by applying a `stripped-giant' model. This evolutionary model successfully reproduces the observed properties of the system. We obtain a maximum mass for the companion of M₂≤ 1.1M_solar and an upper limit to the mass ratio of q(=M₂/M_X) ≤ 0.125. The high X-ray activity displayed by the source suggests a relatively large mass transfer rate which, according to the model, results in M₂≳ 0.3M_solarand M_X≳ 7M_solar. We have also applied this scenario to the black hole binary XTE J1550-564, which has a similar orbital period but the donor is detected spectroscopically. The model successfully reproduces the observed stellar parameters.