Einstein Probe revealed nearly 10 minutes of soft X-ray activity following a short gamma-ray burst, exposing a phase of neutron star mergers that previous missions may have missed. The prolonged emission could have been powered by a newly formed magnetar and may provide a valuable new counterpart to gravitational-wave signals. Einstein Probe reveals a hidden phase of neutron star collisions.
SVOM and HXMT detected the short gamma-ray burst, while Einstein Probe captured the accompanying long-lasting X-ray emission. These extraordinarily violent events produce gravitational waves and rank among the most powerful explosions in the Universe. For decades, astronomers have mainly detected these events through their gamma-ray flashes.
Their earliest soft X-ray emission has been far more difficult to observe because most narrow-field X-ray telescopes depend on gamma-ray alerts to locate a burst before turning toward it. Einstein Probe’s wide-field soft X-ray monitoring has now exposed this previously unseen stage, giving astronomers a direct look at the opening moments of a short GRB. A Half-Second Flash With a Much Longer Aftermath The event, designated EP250704a/GRB 250704B, caught researchers by surprise on July 4, 2025.
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