Einstein Probe catches rare X-ray flash from an exploding star
Astronomers have linked an X-ray flash discovered by the Einstein Probe to a known type of supernova with unusual features that point to the birth of an ultra-dense, rapidly spinning magnetar. The paper outlining this finding was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on July 22.
Astronomers have discovered an X-ray flash from an exploding star, linked to a supernova with unusual features that suggest the formation of an ultra-dense, rapidly spinning magnetar. The finding, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on July 22, was made possible by the Einstein Probe satellite, designed to detect faint X-ray signals.
The X-ray flash, EP250827b, appeared as a weak signal in the Einstein Probe's data and was confirmed by the Zwicky Transient Facility, a ground-based telescope. The event, designated as SN 2025wkm, was found to be a Type Ic-BL supernova, characterized by the absence of hydrogen or helium in its ejecta and the presence of debris moving at high speeds.
The supernova's light curve showed an unusual extended plateau in its luminosity, which could not be explained by radioactive decay alone. The researchers postulate that this behavior is due to energy injection from a newly formed magnetar, an ultra-dense neutron star with an exceptionally strong magnetic field and a rapid spin. With this discovery, the Einstein Probe has now identified four such X-ray flash supernovae.
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