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Yuan-Pei Yang

Publications and source records attributed to Yuan-Pei Yang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A Roadmap for Transient Hunters: Mapping Stellar Mass and Star Formation Rate Anisotropies in the Local Universe

Over the past few decades, an increasing number of transients in nearby galaxies have been discovered through various survey projects. Unlike astrophysical phenomena at cosmological distances, transients in the local universe exhibit a pronounced anisotropy in their sky distribution. Consequently, adopting an appropriate survey strategy is essential to improve the efficiency of transient searches in the local universe. In this work, we utilized a large galaxy catalog to map the sky distributions of stellar mass and star formation rate (SFR) across different luminosity distance thresholds and angular resolutions of the grid on the celestial sphere. These maps can further serve to characterize the anisotropic spatial distribution of nearby extragalactic transients. For different angular resolutions of the celestial sphere, we find that the sky distributions of stellar mass of galaxies are similar to those of the SFR in the main anisotropic structures. As the luminosity distance threshold increases, the anisotropic structures of the sky distributions become more isotropic. We calculate the angular power spectra and fluctuations of the sky distribution of stellar mass and SFR at a given angular resolution and find that the angular power spectra and fluctuations decrease rapidly as the luminosity distance threshold increases. Finally, by qualitatively comparing the sky distribution of core-collapse supernovae with our SFR sky distribution, we find that the two exhibit consistent patterns in several prominent structures. The mapped sky distributions of stellar mass and SFR can serve as valuable references for future surveys in searching for extragalactic transients.

astro-ph.HE

Searching for Gamma Ray Bursts associated with CHIME Fast Radio bursts

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are both linked to compact-object activity, yet their possible connection remains unclear. Here we perform a systematic search for spatial and temporal associations between FRBs in the second CHIME/FRB catalog and Swift GRBs. Instead of using the positional ellipses reported in the catalog, the full CHIME localization probability maps are adopted for spatial cross-matching. This yields 130 candidate pairs and increases the number of spatially consistent matches by a factor of several. Applying a distance-consistency criterion based on DM-inferred FRB redshifts and GRB distances inferred via the Amati relation reduces the sample to 37 pairs, including 26 GRB-preceding-FRB candidates (24 LGRB--FRB and 2 SGRB--FRB). Monte Carlo simulations show that the overall excess of associations is not statistically significant, and the distribution of matches across localization confidence levels is consistent with random expectations. These pairs are therefore not claimed as secure associations, but are used to constrain a possible subdominant FRB--GRB connection. These results place constraints on any FRB--GRB connection and highlight the need for improved localization and larger samples.

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Scatter in the Relation between Persistent Radio Source Luminosity and Fast Radio Burst Rotation Measure: A Window into Circum-burst Environments

The association of persistent radio sources (PRSs) with repeating fast radio bursts (FRBs) offers unique insights into their circum-burst environments. Building upon the physical link between PRS luminosity ($L_ν$) and FRB rotation measure (RM), we introduce a novel diagnostic framework utilizing the intrinsic scatter of the $L_ν- |{\rm RM}|$ relation as a physical probe of nebula dynamics. We show that this scatter encodes critical information regarding the temporal evolution of the nebula radius ($R \propto t^α$). By deriving a generic scaling $L_ν\propto R^ε|{\rm RM}|$, we apply this framework to the current sample of five confirmed FRB-PRS systems as a proof-of-concept. Our preliminary analysis yields a combined evolutionary index of $α|ε| = 1.5 \pm 0.8$. This measurement illustrates the potential of our methodology to distinguish among diverse astrophysical scenarios, such as supernova remnants (SNRs) in different evolutionary stages, pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) driven by constant wind or varying winds, and binary bow-shock systems. While the current conclusions are limited by the small sample size, this work establishes a robust statistical methodology for future population studies. As next-generation radio surveys localize a larger population of active repeaters, this framework will serve as a powerful tool to statistically constrain the physical origin and dynamical life cycle of FRB circum-burst environments.

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Random Polarization Position Angle Behaviors across Bursts of Repeating Fast Radio Bursts

Fast radio bursts (FRBs), highly polarized, mostly have a nearly constant polarization position angle (PA) during each burst. Their PAs are observed to vary from burst to burst, with the statistical properties remaining stable across different observation sessions. We found that the intrinsic PAs of repeating FRBs are approximately Gaussian distributed, suggesting that the emission likely originates from a localized region within the neutron star's magnetosphere. A periodicity search of the PA time series using the Lomb-Scargle periodogram reveals no credible periodic signal in the period range from 10 ms to $10^7$ ms, and similar analyses of several active observations also yield null detections. We interpret these properties by extending the rotating vector model to include a dynamically evolving magnetosphere, in which the effective magnetic axis varies from burst to burst due to stochastic perturbations. In this framework, the observed PA distributions can naturally arise from geometric projection effects, and the absence of periodicity reflects the random wandering of the magnetic axis within a confined region. This scenario provides a natural explanation for both repeating and apparently non-repeating FRBs.

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A Generalized Algorithmic Framework for Detecting Faraday Rotation Measure Flares in Repeating Fast Radio Bursts

Variations in the Faraday rotation measure (RM) of repeating fast radio bursts (FRBs) provide critical diagnostics of the dynamically evolving magneto-ionic environments surrounding their progenitors. Sudden, transient ``RM flares'' can trace the passage of discrete magneto-ionic structures, such as stellar coronal mass ejections from the companion or other dense plasma clumps, across the line of sight. However, identifying these rare events is difficult because RM evolution manifests a wide range of complex behaviors, from smooth, long-term trends to chaotic stochasticity, further complicated by highly non-uniform temporal sampling. This complexity makes it a non-trivial challenge to distinguish localized ``flares'' from intrinsic environmental volatility. We present a generalized algorithmic framework that establishes a robust methodology for the automated detection and characterization of RM flares. By isolating discrete transient perturbations from quiescent backgrounds, this pipeline enables the uniform census of environmental variability across the FRB population. Applying this framework to 15 repeating FRBs, we find that distinct RM flares are rare, with FRB 20220529A being the only source to exhibit an algorithmic detection under standardized parameters. Most of other active repeaters instead display high-level intrinsic fluctuations or secular evolution. This work provides a rigorous foundation for distinguishing between different modes of local plasma dynamics, offering a crucial diagnostic tool for identifying the diverse progenitor systems and local environments of FRBs.

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FAST Polarization Catalog of FRB 20240114A

Polarization measurements of fast radio bursts (FRBs) probe the magnetized plasma surrounding their central engines. FRB~20240114A is an exceptionally active repeating source, with 17,356 bursts detected between 2024 January 28 and 2025 May 30 by FAST, enabling time-resolved polarimetric studies. In this work, we present a polarimetric catalog of 6,131 bright bursts (with a signal-to-noise ratio S/N $\geq$ 20, 35.3% of the total sample), including arrival time (MJD$_{\text{topo}}$), dispersion measure (DM), burst width (W$_{\text{eff}}$), bandwidth, Faraday rotation measure (RM), linear and circular polarization degrees (DOL, DOC), and intrinsic polarization angle (PA$_0$). We detect a clear temporal evolution of RM: after an initial stable phase, it decreases linearly by $\sim$200 $\rm rad\ m^{-2}$ over 200 days, forming a bimodal distribution, whereas DM remains stable at 528.9 $\rm pc\ cm^{-3}$. The linear polarization fraction is generally high, with the 3$σ$ lower bound around 76%, while circular polarization is low, with 1,157 of 17,356 bursts (6.67%) having DOC $\geq$10%. We perform a power-law fit between $|\textrm{V}|$/I and $|\textrm{RM}|$, which yields an index of $-2.98 \pm 0.80$. It is found that the combined 2D distribution of L/I versus V/I remains stable, implying that the emission mechanism is largely invariant. Our PA$_0$ measurements show a broad, non-uniform distribution, implying a complex emission geometry. These results suggest that FRB~20240114A resides in a dynamically evolving magneto-ionic environment. This catalog provides a foundation for studies of repeating FRB progenitors and their environments.

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A Persistently Active Fast Radio Burst source Embedded in an Expanding Supernova Remnant

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) remain one of the most puzzling astrophysical phenomena. While most FRBs are detected only once or sporadically, we present the identification of FRB 20190520B as the first persistently active source over a continuous span of ~ four years. This rare long-term activity enabled a detailed investigation of its dispersion measure (DM) evolution. We also report that FRB 20190520B exhibits a substantial decrease in DM at a global rate of minus 12.4 plus or minus 0.3 pc cm^-3 yr^-1, exceeding previous FRB DM variation measurements by a factor of three and surpassing those observed in pulsars by orders of magnitude. The magnitude and consistency of the DM evolution, along with a high host DM contribution, strongly indicate that the source resides in a dense, expanding ionized medium, likely a young supernova remnant (SNR).

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Investigating FRB 20240114A with FAST: Morphological Classification and Drifting Rate Measurements in a Burst-Cluster Framework

This study investigates the morphological classification and drifting rate measurement of the repeating fast radio burst (FRB) source FRB 20240114A using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST). Detected on January 14, 2024, FRB 20240114A exhibited an exceptionally high burst rate, revealing unique properties. Through observational campaigns over several months, we selected a dataset comprising 3,203 bursts (2,109 burst-clusters) during a continuous monitoring session (15,780 seconds) on March 12, 2024. Improving upon previous work, we clarify the definitions of sub-bursts, bursts and burst-clusters. Using an average dispersion measures (DM) of 529.2 pc cm$^{-3}$, we classified the burst-clusters into Downward Drifting, Upward Drifting, No Drifting, No Evidence for Drifting, Not-Clear, and Complex burst-clusters. Among the 978 burst-clusters that exhibit drifting behavior, 233 (23.82%) show upward drifting. Additionally, if 142 upward drifting single-component burst-clusters are excluded, upward drifting double- and multi-component burst-clusters still account for 10.89% of the 836 burst-clusters exhibiting drifting behavior, equating to 91 burst-clusters. Furthermore, if only upward drifting burst-clusters with consecutive time intervals (or upward drifting bursts) are considered, only 9 bursts remain. Drifting rate comparisons with other physical quantities reveal that the drifting rate increases with peak frequency for single-component burst-clusters with drifting behavior. Moreover, in single-component burst-clusters, those with upward drifting exhibit smaller effective widths, bandwidths, and fluxes than their downward drifting counterparts. A Kolmogorov-Smirnov test further indicates that upward drifting burst-clusters possess longer consecutive time intervals than downward drifting ones, suggesting distinct underlying physical mechanisms.

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Time Evolution of Optical Darkness in GRB Afterglow: The Case of GRB 240825A

Long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are believed to occur in star-forming regions. The multiwavelength follow-up observations of the early afterglow of GRB 240825A provided insights into the evolution of the optical-to-X-ray spectral feature of the afterglow. We comprehensively investigate the evolution of X-ray spectral properties through time-resolved spectral analysis and calculate optical darkness ($β_\mathrm{OX}$) to reveal the physical properties of the afterglow. The X-ray-to-optical SEDs of afterglow in different time intervals are fitted to derive the extinction curves. The $β_\mathrm{OX}$ exhibits a trend of decreasing and then increasing, reaching its minimum value at $\sim1000\mathrm{\,s}$ post-trigger. However, at 11 hours post-trigger, $β_\mathrm{OX}$ does not meet the criteria for an optically dark burst. The extinction curves in different time intervals indicate that GRB 240825A occurred in a dust-obscured environment.

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Magnetic White Dwarf - M Dwarf Binaries in Pre-mCV Phase as Special Population of Long-Period Radio Transients

Long-period radio transients (LPTs) are a new class of coherent radio sources with periods ranging from minutes to hours. Recently, two LPT sources, ILT J1101+5521 and GLEAM-X J0704-37, with periods of 2-3 hours has been confirmed to originate from white dwarf (WD) -- M dwarf (MD) binaries. In this work, we propose that at least some LPTs originate from the magnetic WD -- MD binaries in the pre-magnetic cataclysmic variables (pre-mCV) phase. The asynchronism between the WD's rotation and the binary's orbital motion allows for the unipolar-inductor mechanism or magnetosphere interaction to operate and accelerate radiating particles, with the dominant process depending on the magnetic moment ratio of the two stars. Under asynchronism condition, both the peak flux and the polarization of radio pulses will be modulated by the beat period. The pre-mCV phase characterized by an extremely low accretion rate provides the relatively clean magnetospheric environment necessary for a loss-cone-driven maser (LCDM) mechanism to operate, producing the LPT emission. The observed pulse duty cycle of $10^{-3}-10^{-1}$ is attributed to a beaming effect modulated by the binary's magnetic geometry. Furthermore, the magnetized environment of a WD--MD binary is conducive to Faraday conversion with weak coupling, which implies that the polarization state of LPTs should vary significantly at different periods. Finally, we predict that LPTs from WD--MD binaries should exhibit a period distribution following $f_P(P)dP \propto P^{(1.67-2.33)}dP$ and a luminosity function described by $f_L(L)dL \propto L^{-(1.80-2.67)}dL$, which can be tested by the future large sample.

astro-ph.HE

A possible periodic RM evolution in the repeating FRB 20220529

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are mysterious millisecond-duration radio transients of extragalactic origin. Some of them repeat, while others apparently do not. Investigations of periodic activity in repeating FRB have been conducted to probe their origins. While periodicity in the burst rate has been reported, studies of periodicities in other properties, such as dispersion measure (DM) and rotation measure (RM), are sparse. FRB~20220529 was monitored by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) for nearly three years, providing an opportunity to investigate periodicity in its observed properties. Here we report a possible period of $\sim 200$ days in the RM evolution, with a significance of {4.1 $σ$} estimated via the Lomb-Scargle algorithm and {3.1 $σ$} with the phase-folding method. Periodicity in the burst rate was also investigated. It may indicate that the FRB progenitor is in a binary system, which is consistent with the significant RM increase and prompt recovery of this FRB on a week-timescale. Other scenarios, such as a system with an intermediate-mass black hole, are also explored.

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SN 2024aecx: A double-peaked rapidly evolving Type IIb supernova at 11 Mpc

We present the results of low-resolution spectroscopic and densely sampled multi-band photometric follow-up of supernova (SN) 2024aecx. The SN was discovered in the spiral galaxy NGC 3521 (distance $\sim$11 Mpc) within a day after the explosion. The early spectra of SN 2024aecx show a weak signature of hydrogen lines, which disappeared in $\sim$30 days after the explosion. Light curves in all bands show a distinct feature of two peaks, and the first peak is likely due to the shock cooling emission. The early phase light curve evolution of SN 2024aecx has similarity with the typical Type IIb events, but the decay rate in different bands (e.g., $\rm Δm_{15}$ = 1.60 $\pm$ 0.05 mag, $g$-band) is significantly faster in the post-peak phase. It attained the secondary maximum in $\sim$19 days ($g$-band) with a peak absolute magnitude of M$_{g}$ = -17.94 $\pm$ 0.10 mag. SN 2024aecx colors trend redder in early epochs ($<$8 days), followed by a duration in which it grows bluer, then later gets redder again $>$20 days after explosion. The analytical model fitting to the light curves reveals an envelope mass and progenitor radii in the range of $\sim$0.03 - 0.24 $M_\odot$ and $\sim$169 - 200 $R_\odot$, respectively. Modeling of the pseudo-bolometric light curve suggests that synthesized $^{56}$Ni in the explosion was $\sim$0.15 M$_{\odot}$ with ejecta mass and kinetic energy of $\sim$0.7 M$_{\odot}$ and $\sim$0.16 $\times$ 10$^{51}$ erg, respectively. The observational properties and modeling indicate that the SN~2024aecx progenitor belongs to the extended progenitor category.

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A comprehensive search for Long and Short Periodic Features from an Extremely Active Cycle of FRB 20240114A

Possible periodic features in fast radio bursts (FRBs) may provide insights into their astrophysical origins. Using extensive observations from the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), we conduct a multi-timescale periodicity search for the exceptionally active repeater FRB~20240114A. Our analysis is based on different datasets for different timescales: for short-timescale periodicity in Time of Arrivals (TOAs), we use 57 observations from January to August 2024; for long-timescale periodicity, we employ an extended TOA dataset comprising 111 observations spanning from January 2024 to October 2025; and for burst time series analysis, we utilize individual burst data from the 57 FAST observations. We identify three candidate short-timescale periodic signals (0.673~s, 0.635~s, and 0.536~s) with significances of $3.2σ$--$6σ$, each detected in two independent observations. On longer timescales, we detect a significant $143.40\pm7.19$-day periodicity with $5.2σ$ significance, establishing FRB~20240114A as a periodic repeater. In burst time series, we find quasi-periodic oscillations in the few hundred Hz range ($3.4σ$ and $3.7σ$) and periodic burst trains with periods of several to tens of milliseconds ($3σ$--$3.9σ$), though these periodic features appear transient and short-lived. The detection of periodic signals at these different time scales indicates that FRB 20240114A exhibits intriguing periodic self-similar characteristics. Despite the comprehensive dataset, no definitive periodicity linked to the source's rotation is confirmed, placing stringent constraints on the intrinsic source properties and the modulation mechanisms. All data are available via the Science Data Bank.

astro-ph.HE

FRB cosmology with the RM-PRS Luminosity Correlation

Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) have emerged as a powerful tool for cosmological studies, particularly through the dispersion measure-redshift ($\mathrm{DM}-z$) relation. This work proposes a novel calibration method for FRBs using the Yang-Li-Zhang (YLZ) empirical relation, which links the rotation measure (RM) of FRBs to the luminosity of their associated persistent radio sources (PRS). We demonstrate that this approach provides independent constraints on cosmological parameters, bypassing limitations inherent to traditional $\mathrm{DM}-z$ method. Utilizing the current sample of four YLZ-calibrated FRBs, we derive a Hubble constant measurement of $H_0 = 86.18_{-14.99}^{+18.03}\ \mathrm{km\ s^{-1}\ Mpc^{-1}}$ (68\% CL). Monte Carlo simulations indicate that a future catalog of 400 FRB-PSR systems could reduce the relative uncertainty of $H_0$ to 4.5\%. Combining YLZ-calibrated FRBs with $\mathrm{DM}-z$ sample reveals critical synergies: joint analysis of equalized samples ($N=100$ for both methods) reduces the relative uncertainty of $H_0$ to 2.9\%, mainly because the incorporation of PRS observations substantially mitigates the degeneracy between the parameters such as IGM baryon mass fraction ($f_{\rm IGM}$) and other cosmological parameters inherent to the $\mathrm{DM}-z$ relation.

astro-ph.CO

Unveil A Peculiar Light Curve Pattern of Magnetar Burst with GECAM observations of SGR J1935+2154

Magnetar X-ray Burst (MXB) is usually composed of a single pulse or multiple pulses with rapid rise and brief duration mostly observed in hard X-ray (soft gamma-ray) band. Previous work studied the temporal behavior of some magnetar bursts and employed the Fast Rise Exponential Decay (FRED) model to fit pulses of MXB. However, whether there is other kind of pulse shape has not been explored. In this study, we systematically examined light curve of MXBs from SGR J1935+2154 detected by GECAM between 2021 and 2022. We find that there are different light curve morphologies. Especially, we discover a peculiar and new pattern, Exponential Rise and Cut-Off Decay (ERCOD), which is significantly different from FRED and could be well described by a mathematical function we proposed. We find that MXBs with ERCOD shape are generally longer in duration, brighter in the peak flux, and harder in spectrum. We note that the ERCOD shape is not unique to SGR J1935+2154 but also present in other magnetars. This new light curve pattern may imply a special burst and radiation mechanism of magnetar.

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The magnetar model's energy crisis for a prolific repeating fast radio burst source

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are widely considered to originate from magnetars that power the explosion through releasing magnetic energy. Active repeating FRBs have been seen to produce hundreds of bursts per hour and can stay active for months, thus may provide stringent constraints on the energy budget of FRBs' central engine. Within a time span of 214 days, we detected 11,553 bursts from the hyper-active FRB 20240114A that reached a peak burst rate of 729 hr$^{-1}$. This is the largest burst sample from any single FRB source, exceeding the cumulative total of all published bursts from all known FRBs to date. Assuming typical values of radio efficiency and beaming factor, the estimated total isotropic burst energy of this source exceeds 86% of the dipolar magnetic energy of a typical magnetar. The total released energy from this source exceeds that of other known repeaters by about one and a half orders of magnitude, yielding the most stringent lower limit of $4.7\times10^{32}$ G cm$^3$ for the magnetar's magnetic moment. The source remained active at the end of this observation campaign. Our findings thus require either the FRB's central magnetar engine's possessing exceptionally high emission efficiency or a more powerful compact object than a typical magnetar.

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Spectral Hardening Reveals Afterglow Emergence in Long-Duration Fast X-ray Transients: A Case Study of GRB 250404A/EP250404a

The prompt emission and afterglow phases of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been extensively studied, yet the transition between these two phases remains inadequately characterized due to limited multiwavelength observational coverage. Among the recent growing samples of fast X-ray transients observed by Einstein Probe (EP), a subgroup of GRBs are captured with long-duration X-ray emission, potentially containing featured evolution from prompt emission to the afterglow phase. In this Letter, we present a detailed analysis of GRB 250404A/EP250404a, a bright fast X-ray transient detected simultaneously by EP and the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor in X-rays and gamma rays. Its continuous X-ray emission reveals a long-duration tail, accompanied by distinct spectral evolution manifested by the spectral index $α_{\rm X}$ with an initial softening, followed by an evident hardening, eventually reaching a plateau at the value of $\sim$ -2. Early optical and near-infrared observations enable broadband modeling with forward- and reverse-shock components, confirming that the X-ray hardening signals the emergence of the external-shock afterglow. From this spectral hardening we infer that the prompt phase in soft X-rays lasted $\sim300\;\mathrm{s}$, which is more than 3 times longer than the gamma-ray $T_{90}$. This well-tracked soft-hard-flat spectral pattern provides a clear indication of afterglow emergence from the fading prompt emission and offers a practical criterion for identifying a distinct population of GRBs among fast X-ray transients, even when the detection of the gamma-ray counterpart or obvious temporal break is absent.

astro-ph.HE

On the Fast-radio-burst-associated X-ray Bursts: Inverse Compton Scattering of Radio Photons by an Extreme Pair Flow During Magnetosphere Activities

The Galactic fast radio burst (FRB) FRB 200428 was associated with a short X-ray burst (XRB) from the magnetar SGR J1935+2154 during one of its active phases. This FRB-associated XRB exhibits distinct properties compared to other typical XRBs, including a significantly higher cutoff energy and a steeper power-law index. Its recovered X-ray light curve shows a multiple-peak structure, with the time of arrival offset from that of the FRB. These unique features imply a special physical link between the FRB and X-ray emissions. In 2022 October, a similar FRB-XRB association was detected from the same source. In this paper, we propose a model in which the observed spectral and temporal features of the associated XRBs can be attributed to the inverse Compton scattering (ICS) of FRB photons by an extreme pair flow around the light cylinder, with a bulk Lorentz factor of $Γ\sim10$ and a power-law distribution in the comoving frame, characterized by a typical Lorentz factor $γ^\prime_\mathrm{m}\sim5\times 10^4$. This extreme pair flow could originate from the compression of a transient pulse of $\sim10^{40}-10^{41}\mathrm{erg\,s^{-1}}$ and the acceleration through magnetic reconnection in the current sheet during magnetar activity. The Doppler-boosted ICS spectra and the arrival time shifts in such a scenario can well explain the observed features of the FRB 200428-associated XRB and can also account for another associated event in 2022.

astro-ph.HE