[Explanation] The fast radio burst (FRB) is a mysterious astronomical phenomenon discovered in 2007. It lasts only a few milliseconds. Its origin and generation mechanism are one of the biggest mysteries in literature today.

　　[Explanation] On February 19, the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences held a press conference and released the latest observation results of the "Huiyan" satellite: The "Huiyan" satellite discovered the first X-ray burst associated with a fast radio burst and confirmed its origin The magnetar SGR J1935+2154 in the Milky Way.

　　[Concurrent] Zhang Shuangnan, chief scientist of the "Wise Eye" satellite, director of the Astronomical Center, Institute of High Energy, Chinese Academy of Sciences

　　We verified that the (rapid) radio burst and the X-ray burst came from the same burst; we proved that the burst came from a magnetar through positioning; then our energy spectrum proved that this burst was a very special burst.

First from the location, second from the time, and third from the three aspects of the spectrum, we have verified the properties of this fast radio burst.

It is as if each of us has an ID card, the date of birth, and where we were born. We have all recognized this rapid radio burst certificate.

　　[Explanation] Magnetars are celestial bodies whose surface magnetic field strength is more than one hundred billion times the strength of the Earth's magnetic field. During active periods, there will be violent X-ray bursts. Therefore, many theorists believe that they can also generate rapid radio bursts.

In mid-April 2020, the magnetar SGR J1935+2154 in the Milky Way entered a new active period, and frequent X-ray bursts began to appear.

Under this circumstance, the "Wise Eye" satellite adjusted its established observation plan and conducted a long-term fixed-point observation of the magnetar.

　　[Explanation] On April 28, 2020, the Canadian CHIME telescope and the US STARE2 telescope simultaneously saw a very bright fast radio burst, named FRB 200428.

Its direction is roughly the same as that of the magnetar SGR J1935+2154 being observed by the "eyes of eye" satellite.

About 8.6 seconds before the occurrence of this fast radio burst, the "Wise Eye" satellite observed an extremely bright X-ray burst from the direction of the magnetar. The time difference was exactly the same as the delay of the interstellar matter to the radio signal. The X-ray burst and the fast radio burst originated in the same burst.

In addition, based on a unique collimator design, the "Smart Eye" satellite has performed high-precision positioning of the X-ray burst, thus proving that both the X-ray burst and the fast radio burst come from this magnetar.

　　[Concurrent] Zhang Shuangnan, chief scientist of the "Wise Eye" satellite, director of the Astronomical Center, Institute of High Energy, Chinese Academy of Sciences

　　Telescopes that detect fast radio bursts often have a very large field of view, because you don't know when and where it happened.

Therefore, the field of view is as large as possible, and its positioning accuracy is relatively poor.

Therefore, the positioning accuracy of the Canadian and American telescopes that discovered this fast radio burst this time is not very good.

There are actually many celestial bodies in that circle.

After our "Wise Eye" satellite is set, the error is very small, equivalent to a fraction of a degree (field of view), so in that circle, there is only one celestial body, so we call it (rapid radio burst) Must be produced by this celestial body.

　　[Explanation] Zhang Shuangnan said that this discovery, together with observations by other telescopes internationally, proves that fast radio bursts can originate from magnetar explosions.

This is the first celestial body that humans have confirmed the origin of fast radio bursts, and it plays a key role in understanding the generation and radiation mechanism of fast radio bursts.

　　[Concurrent] Zhang Shuangnan, chief scientist of the "Wise Eye" satellite, director of the Astronomical Center, Institute of High Energy, Chinese Academy of Sciences

　　In the past, we had no idea how this new phenomenon occurred.

We finally know now.

When I write about fast radio bursts in textbooks in the future, I will say that fast radio bursts are possible, and at least one type is produced by neutron stars (magnetars).

Before this was a question mark, now there is at least one answer below this question mark, and this answer is provided by us.

　　[Explanation] The "Wisdom Eye" satellite is China's first space X-ray astronomical satellite. It has been in orbit stably for more than three and a half years and has achieved a series of important results in research on black holes and neutron stars.

Zhang Shuangnan said that in the future, he will continue to use the "Wise Eye" satellite to observe and explore the universe, and further strengthen domestic and international cooperation in scientific research to increase scientific output.

　　Cheng Yusun reports from Beijing

　　Source: Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Editor in charge: [Liu Xian]