“怀柔一号”卫星再立功：首次发现伽马暴里藏着周期信号

Core Insights - A Chinese research team has discovered that a gamma-ray burst (GRB) may be driven by a newly formed magnetar with a rotation period of only 1.1 milliseconds, marking the first observation of millisecond pulsation signals in a gamma-ray burst [1][2] - The study was conducted by Nanjing University, the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the University of Hong Kong, and published in the journal Nature Astronomy [1] Group 1 - The research utilized the "Huairou-1" satellite to analyze data from a particularly bright gamma-ray burst, GRB 230307A, which was detected on March 7, 2023, and emitted high-energy gamma rays for nearly one minute, significantly longer than typical short bursts [1][2] - The team identified a central frequency of approximately 909 Hz, with a signal duration of about 160 milliseconds, and a pulsation period of around 1.1 milliseconds, aligning with expectations for a magnetar's rotation period [2] - This finding enhances the understanding of the central engine of gamma-ray bursts and provides critical clues for revealing the evolution of compact objects under extreme physical conditions [2] Group 2 - The "Huairou-1" satellite, launched in December 2020, serves as a monitor for gravitational wave counterparts and has achieved several original results in the study of gamma-ray bursts, magnetar explosions, gravitational waves, and fast radio bursts [2]