Rare Binary Star Pair Observed in X-Ray Flash by Einstein Probe

The discovery of a massive star and white dwarf system marks a breakthrough in understanding stellar evolution and binary interactions.

Einstein Probe detected an X-ray flash from a rare binary system in the Small Magellanic Cloud, consisting of a massive Be star and a white dwarf.
The Be star is 12 times the mass of the Sun, while the white dwarf is a dense stellar remnant with a mass similar to the Sun.
This is the first time scientists have tracked such a system's X-ray emissions from initial flare-up to fading, revealing critical insights into its dynamics.
The white dwarf's gravitational pull causes material from the Be star to accumulate, eventually triggering a nuclear explosion and X-ray burst.
The discovery highlights the unique capabilities of the Einstein Probe in detecting fleeting, low-energy X-ray phenomena crucial for studying stellar evolution.