中国天眼新成果发布 揭示快速射电暴双星起源关键证据

Core Insights - A research team led by the Purple Mountain Observatory has made a significant breakthrough by capturing the detailed evolution of the Faraday rotation measure (RM) of a repeating fast radio burst (FRB) for the first time internationally, providing strong observational evidence for the hypothesis that FRBs originate from binary star systems [1][4]. Group 1: Discovery and Research Methodology - The research utilized China's 500-meter aperture spherical radio telescope, FAST, to monitor the repeating FRB 20220529 for over two years, leveraging its high sensitivity to detect subtle changes in the Faraday rotation measure [1][3]. - The Faraday rotation measure is a crucial parameter that reflects the density of plasma and magnetic field strength along the signal's propagation path, acting as a precise "cosmic magnetic environment probe" [3][4]. Group 2: Observational Findings - The Faraday rotation measure of FRB 20220529 exhibited small fluctuations within a certain range for 18 months, until December 2023, when it experienced a dramatic surge to 20 times its normal variation level, followed by a rapid decline back to normal [4][5]. - This phenomenon is unprecedented in the recorded history of FRB research, indicating a significant event in the cosmic environment [4]. Group 3: Theoretical Implications - The observed rapid and large-scale changes in the magnetic environment cannot be explained by existing theories if FRB 20220529 were to originate from an isolated neutron star; however, if it is part of a binary star system, the intense activity from a companion star could naturally explain the observed fluctuations in the Faraday rotation measure [5].