极为罕见！“中国天眼”有重要发现

Core Viewpoint - The discovery of a rare millisecond pulsar by the FAST telescope has significant implications for the understanding of stellar evolution, dense star accretion physics, and gravitational wave sources from binary star mergers [1][3][4]. Group 1: Discovery and Characteristics - The research team led by researcher Han Jinlin from the National Astronomical Observatories of China discovered a millisecond pulsar with a rotation period of 10.55 milliseconds, orbiting a companion star every 3.6 hours [1][3]. - The companion star is estimated to have a mass at least equal to that of the Sun, but its compact orbit suggests it is not a typical star, but rather a stripped-down core of a star that has undergone common envelope evolution, likely a hot helium star [3][4]. Group 2: Implications for Astronomy - This unique binary system is extremely rare, with only a few dozen such systems estimated to exist among the hundreds of billions of stars in the Milky Way, making it a fleeting phenomenon in the universe [4]. - The findings are expected to enhance the understanding of stellar evolution processes, including how stars interact and exchange material, and the dynamics of neutron stars entering companion stars [4]. Group 3: FAST Telescope Capabilities - The FAST telescope, known as the "Chinese Sky Eye," has discovered over 1,000 pulsars since its operation began in 2020, serving as a crucial tool for deep space exploration [5]. - Its advanced design allows it to detect weak signals from billions of light-years away, contributing to significant astronomical discoveries, including the first complete recording of a gamma-ray burst's lifecycle [5].