Fast X-ray Transients (FXTs)

Astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics have identified the likely mechanism behind a mysterious Fast X-ray Transient (FXT), a rare, non-repeating X-ray flash detected on November 7, 2024.

• The study suggests that the event may have been caused by the collapse of a massive star or the merger of two neutron stars, offering new insights into extreme cosmic phenomena.
• The findings have been published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

What are Fast X-ray Transients (FXTs)?

• FXTs are energetic, non-repeating flashes of X-rays associated with violent events in the universe.
• They represent a new class of transient astronomical sources, first discovered about a decade ago.
• These events appear as sudden bursts of low-energy X-rays, lasting from a few minutes to several hours, before fading rapidly.
• Their short duration has made them difficult to observe, leaving their origin largely uncertain.

About the Recent Discovery

• The study focused on an FXT event designated EP241107a, detected on November 7, 2024.
• It was discovered by the Einstein Probe, a Chinese space mission dedicated to monitoring the dynamic high-energy universe and detecting short-lived cosmic events.
• Using a multi-wavelength observational approach, astronomers detected a radio counterpart to the X-ray flash.
• The radio observations were carried out using the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array.

Possible Origin of FXTs

The study suggests that FXTs may result from:

• Collapse of a massive star, leading to the formation of a black hole or neutron star; or
• Merger of two neutron stars, producing powerful bursts of high-energy radiation.

Source: PIB

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