Einstein probe detects strange flash in space — potentially new type of astronomical phenomenon

The Einstein Probe has discovered a mysterious object that flashes in space like fireworks and disappears in seconds.

Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences suggest that this may be a new type of astronomical phenomenon that will help us better understand extreme processesExtreme processes are super-powerful cosmic phenomena in which temperatures reach millions of degrees, pressures are billions of times higher than on Earth, and speeds approach the speed of light. They include supernovae explosions, black hole material absorption, and neutron star collisions. in the Universe.

The transient space phenomenon EP240408a was recorded on April 8, 2024, during a routine sky scan. In 12 seconds, the brightness of the flare in the X-ray spectrumThe X-ray range/spectrum is a part of electromagnetic radiation with very short wavelengths. In space, it is emitted by extremely hot objects or those undergoing powerful explosive processes. increased by a factor of 300, making it one of the most powerful of all observations in this range. After 10 days, the X-ray emission from this area of the sky completely stopped, leaving astronomers with many questions.

Einstein Probe mission leader Yuan Weimin notes that other telescopes might have missed the phenomenon due to its short duration.

The Einstein Probe, which was sent into orbit in January 2024, has a unique design. Its main instrument, a wide-angle X-ray telescope, is designed like a lobster’s eye, allowing it to simultaneously observe a large area of the sky and obtain clear images in the X-ray range. In its first months of operation, the satellite detected 60 confirmed cosmic events, including starbursts, white dwarfs, and black holes.

In addition to the mysterious object, the spacecraft detected a powerful gamma-ray burstA gamma-ray burst is the most powerful type of explosion in the Universe, which occurs during the death of massive stars (such as a supernova collapse) or when neutron stars merge. In a few seconds, it releases more energy than the Sun emits during its entire existence, which lasts billions of years. EP240315a is 25.6 billion light-years away. This observation opens up new possibilities for studying the processes of black hole formation in the early Universe.

Paul O’Brien, Head of the Department of Astrophysics at the University of Leicester (UK), considers these discoveries to be revolutionary for science.

Source: Interesting Engineering