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The Einstein Probe telescope captured for the first time a long X-ray 'echo' after an instant gamma-ray burst — like thunder after lightning.
Abstract
Like thunder follows lightning, a short gamma-ray burst (a powerful cosmic explosion) was trailed by a long, nearly ten-minute X-ray flare. This hints that long-lasting X-ray glow might be business as usual when neutron stars collide. Such flares will help us snag gravitational waves – the ripples in space-time. Does that mean every short gamma-ray burst has a stealthy 'tail' we’ve been missing?
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The Einstein Probe space telescope detected a celestial storm: after a short (0.4-second) gamma-ray burst — a cosmic lightning bolt — came a long roll of X-ray thunder. It lasted nearly 10 minutes. This is the first direct proof that such explosions leave a lingering X-ray afterglow.
These events are caused by collisions of neutron stars or black holes. The impact produces an instantaneous gamma-ray flash, and then the crash site continues to emit soft X-rays for a long time. This tail not only tells us about the merger details — it helps locate the source, even after the gravitational waves, the tremors of space, have subsided.
But the biggest surprise is the power. In those same 10 minutes, this X-ray echo releases as much energy as hundreds of billions of Suns shining at once.
🎯 In 10 minutes, this X-ray signal releases energy equivalent to the luminosity of hundreds of billions of Suns.
