Editor's note: On April 28th, scientists observed the FRB 200428 event. The resulting X-ray burst lasted 8.6 seconds, forming a fast radio burst. What can be confirmed is that FRB 200428 comes from the magnetar , which is characterized by repetitiveness. If it is a non-repetitive FRB event, what mechanism is it, further research is needed.
Impressions of the universe｜Toutiao exclusive in-depth science popularization column No. 1570
In April 2020, scientists discovered that there was a powerful radio pulse outside 30,000 light-years of , which was recorded in a fast radio burst , Was named FRB 200428. The radio explosion is so special because it originated in the Milky Way, which means it is right beside us, and it has a certain source.
Picture interpretation: FRB 200428, like other radio bursts, lasted only a few milliseconds, and then disappeared
Picture interpretation: On April 28, scientists observed the FRB 200428 event, which produced The X-ray burst lasted for 8.6 seconds, forming a fast radio burst
. Compared with the fast radio bursts discovered in the past, this event has the characteristics of traceability. Unlike those radio bursts outside the Milky Way, the location is often not determined. So it was guessed that it was the spaceship engine started by an alien civilization. FRB 200428, like other radio bursts, lasts only a few milliseconds and then disappears. What we want to investigate is where its powerful energy comes from and what mechanism causes such a powerful release of energy.
According to our current research on fast radio bursts, this kind of energy release has many forms, but it leads to an unruly situation. The more we know about fast radio bursts, the more unfamiliar to them. Most of the fast radio bursts occur outside the Milky Way, but some originate in the Milky Way. The fast radio bursts in the Milky Way have different characteristics from those outside the river.Even the fast radio bursts outside the river are different. For example, the duration varies, and there is no rule to follow whether they reappear. There are some fast radio bursts that reappear multiple times, and some fast radio bursts only erupt once. There is no trace anymore.
Picture interpretation: Fast radio bursts in the Milky Way have different characteristics from those outside the river. Even the fast radio bursts outside the river are different.
Picture interpretation: Magnetar is A neutron star with a strong magnetic field
Astronomers generally believe that a fast radio burst is not a catastrophic event, but the last radio burst in which a neutron star collapses into a black hole. This theory can only explain part of the fast radio bursts outside the river, and some fast radio bursts may be the behavior of magnetars. A magnetar is a special kind of neutron star. The neutron star has a strong magnetic field. The magnetic field of a magnetar is more than 1,000 times that of a neutron star. Therefore, the heating mechanism of the magnetic field can make the surface temperature of the magnetar reach 10 million Kelvin. Some of the fast radio bursts may be formed by the electromagnetic bursts of neutron stars, similar to the flare bursts on the star . When a magnetar bursts, it will produce strong X-rays and gamma rays. If its direction is aligned with the earth, then we can observe Rapid radio bursts.
Picture interpretation: Gamma radio bursts outside the river have different origins and release mechanisms
30,000 light-years away FRB 200428 is a magnetar, numbered SGR J1935 + 2154, in 2020 It entered an active period in mid-April, 2008. On April 28, scientists observed the FRB 200428 event, which produced an X-ray burst lasting 8.6 seconds, forming a fast radio burst. What can be confirmed is that FRB 200428 comes from a magnetar, which is characterized by repetitiveness. If it is a non-repetitive FRB event, what mechanism is it, further research is needed. Universe impression is exclusive to today's headlines, others are fake, and reprinting is illegal.
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