Science objectives of the Einstein Probe mission
Science China Physics Mechanics and Astronomy, vol. 68
Abstract
Abstract The Einstein Probe (EP) is an interdisciplinary mission of time-domain and X-ray astronomy. Equipped with a wide-field lobster-eye X-ray focusing imager, EP will discover cosmic X-ray transients and monitor the X-ray variability of known sources in 0.5–4 keV, at a combination of detecting sensitivity and cadence that is not accessible to the previous and current wide-field monitoring missions. EP can perform quick characterisation of transients or outbursts with a Wolter-I X-ray telescope onboard. In this paper, the science objectives of the EP mission are presented. EP is expected to enlarge the sample of previously known or predicted but rare types of transients with a wide range of timescales. Among them, fast extragalactic transients will be surveyed systematically in soft X-rays, which include γ-ray bursts and their variants, supernova shock breakouts, and the predicted X-ray transients associated with binary neutron star mergers. EP will detect X-ray tidal disruption events and outbursts from active galactic nuclei, possibly at an early phase of the flares for some. EP will monitor the variability and outbursts of X-rays from white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes in our and neighbouring galaxies at flux levels fainter than those detectable by the current instruments, and is expected to discover new objects. A large sample of stellar X-ray flares will also be detected and characterised. In the era of multi-messenger astronomy, EP has the potential of detecting the possible X-ray counterparts of gravitational wave events, neutrino sources, and ultra-high energy γ-ray and cosmic ray sources. EP is expected to help advance the studies of extreme objects and phenomena revealed in the dynamic X-ray universe, and their underlying physical processes. Besides EP’s strength in time-domain science, its follow-up telescope, with excellent performance, will also enable advances in many areas of X-ray astronomy.
Authors 86
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Weimin Yuan corresponding
Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
School of Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of High Energy Physics
Affiliation as printed
Key Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
School of Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Radboud University Nijmegen · Space Research Organisation Netherlands
Affiliation as printed
Department of Astrophysics/IMAPP, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6500 GL, the Netherlands
SRON, Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Leiden, 2333 CA, the Netherlands
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European Space Research and Technology Centre
Affiliation as printed
ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk, 2201 AZ, the Netherlands
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Affiliation as printed
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, 85748, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
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Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
INAF-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Rome, 00133, Italy
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Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Affiliation as printed
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, 85748, Germany
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Institute of Space Sciences · Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya
Affiliation as printed
Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC), Barcelona, E-08034, Spain
Institute of Space Sciences (ICE), CSIC, Campus UAB, Barcelona, E-08193, Spain
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Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Affiliation as printed
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, 85748, Germany
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of High Energy Physics
Affiliation as printed
Key Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
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University of Nevada, Las Vegas · Chinese Academy of Sciences · Purple Mountain Observatory · Nanjing University
Affiliation as printed
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, 89154, USA
Key Laboratory of Modern Astronomy and Astrophysics, Nanjing University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, 210023, China
Nevada Center for Astrophysics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, 89154, USA
Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210023, China
School of Astronomy and Space Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of High Energy Physics · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Affiliation as printed
Key Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
School of Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
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Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Affiliation as printed
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, 85748, Germany
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Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Affiliation as printed
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, 85748, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
School of Physics and Astronomy, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Affiliation as printed
School of Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of High Energy Physics
Affiliation as printed
Key Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of High Energy Physics
Affiliation as printed
Key Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Cité · Laboratoire AstroParticule et Cosmologie · Université Paris Diderot
Affiliation as printed
CNRS, Astroparticule et Cosmologie, Université Paris Cité, Paris, F-75013, France
APC (UMR_7164) - AstroParticule et Cosmologie (APC - UMR 7164, Université Paris Diderot, 10 rue Alice Domon et Léonie Duquet, case postale 7020, F-75205 Paris Cedex 13 - France)
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Institute of Space Sciences · Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya
Affiliation as printed
Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC), Barcelona, E-08034, Spain
Institute of Space Sciences (ICE), CSIC, Campus UAB, Barcelona, E-08193, Spain
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University of Science and Technology of China
Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
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Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Affiliation as printed
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, 85748, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
Institute for Frontier in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 102206, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of High Energy Physics
Affiliation as printed
Key Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Purple Mountain Observatory
Affiliation as printed
Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210023, China
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Brera Astronomical Observatory · Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Milano Bicocca · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Merate, LC, I-23807, Italy
INFN–sezione di Milano-Bicocca, Milano, MI, I-20126, Italy
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Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · Sapienza University of Rome · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma “Sapienza”, Roma, I-00185, Italy
INAF-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Rome, 00133, Italy
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
School of Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier · Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie
Affiliation as printed
Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, UPS-OMP, CNRS, CNES, Toulouse Cedex 4, F-31028, France
IRAP - Institut de recherche en astrophysique et planétologie (9 avenue Colonel Roche 31028 Toulouse - France)
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Yunnan Observatories
Affiliation as printed
Key Laboratory for the Structure and Evolution of Celestial Objects, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650216, China
Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650216, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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Affiliation as printed
Key Laboratory of Modern Astronomy and Astrophysics, Nanjing University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, 210023, China
School of Astronomy and Space Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
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Affiliation as printed
School of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China
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Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy
Affiliation as printed
Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Bonn, 53121, Germany
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Institute for Cosmic Ray Research · The University of Tokyo
Affiliation as printed
Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa City, Chiba, 277-8582, Japan
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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Xiamen University · Beijing Normal University
Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
Department of Astronomy, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
Institute for Frontier in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 102206, China
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Xiamen University · Beijing Normal University
Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
Department of Astronomy, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
Institute for Frontier in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 102206, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of High Energy Physics
Affiliation as printed
Key Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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University of Science and Technology of China
Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
School of Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
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Affiliation as printed
Key Laboratory of Stars and Interstellar Medium, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, 411105, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
School of Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Affiliation as printed
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, 85748, Germany
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Affiliation as printed
School of Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
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Central China Normal University
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Astrophysics, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
Key Laboratory of Quark and Lepton Physics, Central China Normal University, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430079, China
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Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Affiliation as printed
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, 85748, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
College of Physics and Hebei Key Laboratory of Photophysics Research and Application, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of High Energy Physics · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Affiliation as printed
Key Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
School of Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Observatoire astronomique de Strasbourg · Université de Strasbourg
Affiliation as printed
Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, F-67000, France
ObAS - Observatoire astronomique de Strasbourg (11 Rue de l'université 67000 STRASBOURG - France)
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Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Affiliation as printed
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, 85748, Germany
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Institute of Space Sciences · Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya
Affiliation as printed
Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC), Barcelona, E-08034, Spain
Institute of Space Sciences (ICE), CSIC, Campus UAB, Barcelona, E-08193, Spain
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Physics, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, 999077, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Affiliation as printed
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, 85748, Germany
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The University of Sydney · Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
INAF–Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Pino Torinese, Turin, I-10025, Italy
School of Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
Sydney Institute for Astronomy, School of Physics A28, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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Affiliation as printed
School of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China
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Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
INAF-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Rome, 00133, Italy
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University of Rome Tor Vergata · Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Department of Physics, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, I-00133, Italy
INAF-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Rome, 00133, Italy
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
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Affiliation as printed
School of Astronomy and Space Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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University of Science and Technology of China · Chinese Academy of Sciences · Purple Mountain Observatory
Affiliation as printed
Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210023, China
School of Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory
Affiliation as printed
Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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Peking University · State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology
Affiliation as printed
Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
School of Physics and State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Peking University · Institute of High Energy Physics
Affiliation as printed
Key Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Peking University · Institute of High Energy Physics
Affiliation as printed
Key Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
School of Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
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Central China Normal University
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Astrophysics, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
Key Laboratory of Quark and Lepton Physics, Central China Normal University, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430079, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
School of Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Yunnan Observatories
Affiliation as printed
Key Laboratory for the Structure and Evolution of Celestial Objects, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650216, China
Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650216, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of High Energy Physics
Affiliation as printed
Key Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · National Astronomical Observatories
Affiliation as printed
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Affiliation as printed
School of Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
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Affiliation as printed
School of Astronomy and Space Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
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