Fast Radio Bursts Research Articles

Is the M81 Fast Radio Burst Host Globular Cluster Special?

We use multiband archival Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations to measure the photometric and structural parameters of the M81 globular cluster (GC) that hosts the fast radio burst FRB 20200120E. Our best-fitting King model has an effective radius r h = 3.06 pc with a moderate King model concentration of c = 53, and an inferred core radius of 0.81 pc. We revisit the exact astrometric location of the FRB within the cluster, and find that FRB 20200120E is located 1.92 pc from the center, but within the projected half-light radius. We estimate the relative encounter rate of the FRB host, along with the corresponding rates of 210 other GCs in M81, and compare these values with the encounter rates of Galactic GCs. The FRB resides in a GC with an encounter rate that is moderately higher than the median stellar encounter rate in our two comparison samples. While the estimated encounter rate of the FRB host cluster (e.g., ∼50% of a cluster like 47 Tuc) is sufficient to allow the possibility that the FRB formed dynamically, our results do not place strong constraints on this scenario due to the limitations of the available HST data and the possible systematic uncertainties and selection effects in the comparison data.

Deep Synoptic Array Science: Implications of Faraday Rotation Measures of Fast Radio Bursts Localized to Host Galaxies

Faraday rotation measures (RMs) of fast radio bursts (FRBs) offer the prospect of directly measuring extragalactic magnetic fields. We present an analysis of the RMs of 10 as yet nonrepeating FRBs detected and localized to host galaxies with robust redshift measurements by the 63-antenna prototype of the Deep Synoptic Array (DSA-110). We combine this sample with published RMs of 15 localized FRBs, nine of which are repeating sources. For each FRB in the combined sample, we estimate the host-galaxy dispersion measure (DM) contributions and extragalactic RM. We find compelling evidence that the extragalactic components of FRB RMs are often dominated by contributions from the host-galaxy interstellar medium (ISM). Specifically, we find that both repeating and as yet nonrepeating FRBs show a correlation between the host DM and host RM in the rest frame, and we find an anticorrelation between extragalactic RM (in the observer frame) and redshift for nonrepeaters, as expected if the magnetized plasma is in the host galaxy. Important exceptions to the ISM origin include a dense, magnetized circumburst medium in some repeating FRBs, and the intracluster medium of host or intervening galaxy clusters. We find that the estimated ISM magnetic-field strengths, , are characteristically ∼1–2 μG larger than those inferred from Galactic radio pulsars. This suggests either increased ISM magnetization in FRB hosts in comparison with the Milky Way, or that FRBs preferentially reside in regions of increased magnetic-field strength within their hosts.

Revealing dark matter dress of primordial black holes by cosmological lensing

Stellar-mass primordial black holes (PBHs) from the early Universe can directly contribute to the gravitational wave (GW) events observed by LIGO, but can only comprise a subdominant component of the dark matter (DM). The primary DM constituent will generically form massive halos around seeding stellar-mass PBHs. We demonstrate that gravitational lensing of sources at cosmological (≳Gpc) distances can directly explore DM halo dresses engulfing PBHs, challenging for lensing of local sources in the vicinity of Milky Way. Strong lensing analysis of fast radio bursts detected by CHIME survey already starts to probe parameter space of dressed stellar-mass PBHs, and upcoming searches can efficiently explore dressed PBHs over ∼10−105M⊙ mass-range and provide a stringent test of the PBH scenario for the GW events. Our findings establish a general test for a broad class of DM models with stellar-mass PBHs, including those where QCD axions or WIMP-like particles comprise predominant DM. The results open a new route for exploring dressed PBHs with various types of lensing events at cosmological distances, such as supernovae and caustic crossings.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Repeating Fast Radio Bursts

Nearly 700 fast radio burst (FRB) sources have been detected so far, of which 29 are found to burst out repeatedly. Although a firm connection between at least some FRBs and magnetars has been established, the trigger mechanism and radiation process in these enigmatic phenomena are still highly controversial. In this study, we build a sample of 16 repeating FRBs from which at least five bursts have been detected, including the most active four repeaters of FRBs 20121102A, 20180916B, 20190520B, and 20201124A. Various key parameters of their bursts are collected from the literature, which include the arrival time, pulse width, dispersion measure (DM), Faraday rotation measure (RM), bandwidth, waiting time, peak flux, and fluence. The distribution and time evolution of these parameters are investigated. Potential correlations between various parameter pairs are also extensively explored. The behaviors of different repeaters are then compared. It is found that the DM of FRB 20121102A seems to increase continuously on a long timescale. While the DM of most repeaters varies in a narrow range of ±3 cm−3 pc, FRB 20190520B is found to have a large variation range of ±12 cm−3 pc. The RM evolves with time in a much more chaotic behavior in different repeaters. A linear correlation is found between the absolute mean RM and DMHost, which may provide a method to estimate the redshift of FRBs. Generally, the waiting time shows a similar bimodal distribution for the active repeating sources. The implications of these features to the underlying physics are discussed.

Identification of Fast Radio Bursts using Transfer Learning Approach with Data Augmentation

The universe has many mysteries, such as pulsars, dying stars, supernovae, and fast radio bursts (FRBs), FRBs are millisecond long radio signals, detected as a spike in radio-telescope data. Identification of Fast Radio Bursts from available data involves manual inspection of exhaustive data/plots. Radio Frequency Interference in pose a major challenge in identification of Fast Radio Bursts due to their abundance in the observatory data. We present a machine-learning-aided system, which screens telescope-generated data and identifies potential Fast Radio Burst candidates in it. Proposed system employs Convolutional Neural Networks and Transfer Learning to classify potential Fast Radio Bursts from Radio Frequency Interference from data recorded by the uGMRT. We have used data simulation tools to synthesize additional samples in order to make up for the paucity of data. The VGG16-based model displayed the best receiver operating characteristics curve with the area under curve being 0.90 along with an accuracy of 90.67%.

A Novel Low-frequency Radio Astronomical Observation Array (1 ∼ 90 MHz) and its First Light

The extremely low frequency (f < 40 MHz) is a very important frequency band for modern radio astronomy observations. It is also a key frequency band for solar radio bursts, planetary radio bursts, fast radio bursts detected in the lunar space electromagnetic environment, and the Earth’s middle and upper atmosphere with low dispersion values. In this frequency band, the solar stellar activity, the early state of the universe, and the radiation characteristics of the planetary magnetosphere and plasma layer can be explored. Since there are few observations with effective spatial resolution in the extremely low frequency, it is highly possible to discover unknown astronomical phenomena on such a band in the future. In conjunction with low frequency radio observation on the far side of the Moon, we initially set up a novel low-frequency radio array in the Qitai station of Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory deep in Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China on 2021 August 23. The array covers an operating frequency range of 1 ∼ 90 MHz with a sensitivity of −78 dBm/125kHz, a dynamic range of 72 dB, and a typical gain value of 6 dBi, which can realize unattended all-weather observations. The two antennas due south of the Qitai Low-Frequency Radio Array were put into trial observations on 2021 May 28, and the very quiet electromagnetic environment of the station has been confirmed. So far, many solar radio bursts and other foreign signals have been detected. The results show that this novel low frequency radio array has the advantages of good performance, strong direction, and high antenna efficiency. It can play a unique role in Solar Cycle 25, and has a potential value in prospective collaborative observation between the Earth and space for extremely low frequency radio astronomy.

Constraint on the relativistic motion of fast radio bursts based on the maximal electric field

ABSTRACT Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond radio signals from cosmological distances. As they propagate, FRBs can interact with ambient photons and initiate a quantum cascade that can limit the electric field strength. This paper examines whether some observed bright and brief FRBs may challenge this limit if the source is not relativistic. The size of a static FRB source is estimated as R ∼ ct, where t is the time-scale of the FRB and c denotes the speed of light. But for a relativistic source moving at the Lorentz factor Γ, the size is R ∼ 2Γ2ct. Using an FRB catalogue, we plot the luminosity–duration distribution. Most FRBs fall below the limit for a static source, but two events have higher luminosity and shorter duration. This suggests these bursts may originate from relativistic sources, although more data are needed to confirm this.

Fast radio bursts that last only a few microseconds

Fast radio bursts that last only a few microseconds

A luminous fast radio burst that probes the Universe at redshift 1.

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration pulses of radio emission originating from extragalactic distances. Radio dispersion is imparted on each burst by intervening plasma, mostly located in the intergalactic medium. In this work, we observe the burst FRB20220610A and localize it to a morphologically complex host galaxy system at redshift 1.016 ± 0.002. The burst redshift and dispersion measure are consistent with passage through a substantial column of plasma in the intergalactic medium and extend the relationship between those quantities measured at lower redshift. The burst shows evidence for passage through additional turbulent magnetized plasma, potentially associated with the host galaxy. We use the burst energy of 2 × 1042 erg to revise the empirical maximum energy of an FRB.

Polarization Evolution of Fast Radio Burst Sources in Binary Systems

Recently, some fast radio bursts (FRBs) have been reported to exhibit complex and diverse variations in Faraday rotation measurements (RM) and polarization, suggesting that dynamically evolving magnetization environments may surround them. In this paper, we investigate the Faraday conversion (FC) effect in a binary system involving an FRB source and analyze the polarization evolution of FRBs. For a strongly magnetized high-mass companion binary, when an FRB with ∼100% linear polarization passes through the radial magnetic field of the companion star, the circular polarization (CP) component will be induced and oscillate symmetrically around the point with the degree of CP equal to zero, the rate and amplitude of the oscillation decrease as the frequency increases. The very strong plasma column density in the HMCBs can cause CP to oscillate with frequency at a very drastic rate, which may lead to depolarization. Near the superior conjunction of the binary orbit, the DM varies significantly due to the dense plasma near the companion, and the significant FC also occurs in this region. As the pulsar moves away from the superior conjunction, the CP gradually tends toward zero and then returns to its value before incidence. We also investigate the effect of the rotation of the companion star. We find that a sufficiently significant RM reversal can be produced at large magnetic inclinations and the RM variation is very diverse. Finally, we apply this model to explain some polarization observations of PSR B1744-24A and FRB 20201124A.

Prediction for the Multi-band Afterglows of FRB 200428 and its Implication

The physical mechanism of fast radio bursts (FRBs) is still unknown. On 2020 April 28, a special radio burst, FRB 200428, was detected and believed to be associated with the Galactic magnetar SGR 1935+2154. It confirms that at least some of the FRBs were generated by magnetars, although the radiation mechanism continues to be debated. To this end, we study in detail the multiband afterglows of FRB 200428 described by the synchrotron fireball shock model. We find the prediction for the optical and radio afterglows of FRB 200428 is consistent with the observations when considering the post-FRB optical and radio upper limits from the literature. We also show that the follow up detection of the afterglows from fast radio bursts like—FRB 200428 is possible at the radio band, though challenging. Based on our model, one can obtain information about the energy of the fireball, the radiation zone, and the nature of the surrounding medium. That may shed light on the physical mechanism of FRBs.

Fast Radio Bursts: Electromagnetic Counterparts to Extreme Mass-ratio Inspirals

Recent observations discovered that some repeating fast radio bursts (FRBs) show a large value and complex variations of Faraday rotation measures (RMs). The binary systems containing a supermassive black hole and a neutron star can be used to explain such RM variations. Meanwhile, such systems produce low-frequency gravitational-wave (GW) signals, which are one of the primary interests of three proposed space-based GW detectors: the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), Tianqin, and Taiji. These signals are known as extreme mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs). Therefore, FRBs can serve as candidates of electromagnetic counterparts for EMRI signals. In this Letter, we study the EMRI signals in this binary system, which can be detected up to z ∼ 0.04 by LISA and Tianqin for the most optimistic case. Assuming the cosmic comb model for FRB production, the total event rate can be as high as ∼1 Gpc−3 yr−1. EMRI signals associated with FRBs can be used to reveal the progenitor of FRBs. It is also a new type of standard siren, which can be used as an independent cosmological probe.

Fast Radio Bursts Generated by Coherent Curvature Radiation from Compressed Bunches for FRB 20190520B

The radiation mechanism of fast radio bursts (FRBs) has been extensively studied, but still remains elusive. Coherent radiation has been identified as a crucial component in the FRB mechanism, with charged bunches also playing a significant role under specific circumstances. In the present research, we propose a phenomenological model that draws upon the coherent curvature radiation framework and a magnetized neutron star, taking into account the kinetic energy losses of outflow particles due to inverse Compton scattering (ICS) induced by soft photons within the magnetosphere. By integrating the ICS deceleration mechanism for particles, we hypothesize a potential compression effect on the particle number density within a magnetic tube/family, which could facilitate achieving the necessary size for coherent radiation in the radial direction. This mechanism might potentially enable the dynamic formation of bunches capable of emitting coherent curvature radiation along the curved magnetic field. Moreover, we examine the formation of bunches from an energy perspective. Our discussion suggests that within the given parameter space, the formation of bunches is feasible. Finally, we apply this model to FRB 20190520B, one of the most active repeating FRBs discovered and monitored by FAST. Several observed phenomena are explained, including the basic characteristics, frequency downward drifting, and bright spots within certain dynamic spectral ranges.

Temporal Evolution of Depolarization and Magnetic Field of Fast Radio Burst 20201124A

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are energetic millisecond phenomena in the radio band. Polarimetric studies of repeating FRBs indicate that many of these sources occupy extreme and complex magnetoionized environments. Recently, a frequency-dependent depolarization has been discovered in several repeating FRBs. However, the temporal evolution of polarization properties is limited by the burst rate and observational cadence of telescopes. In this Letter, the temporal evolution of depolarization in repeating FRB 20201124A is explored. Using the simultaneous variation of rotation measure and dispersion measure, we also measure the strength of a magnetic field parallel to the line of sight. The strength ranges from a few μG to 103 μG. In addition, we find that the evolution of depolarization and magnetic field traces the evolution of rotation measure. Our result supports that the variation of depolarization, rotation measure, and the magnetic field are determined by the same complex magnetoionized screen surrounding the FRB source. The derived properties of the screen are consistent with the wind and the decretion disk of a massive star.

Implications of Narrow Spectra of Fast Radio Bursts

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration radio transients with extremely high brightness temperatures at cosmological distances, and the physical origin and the radiation mechanism of FRBs are still unknown. The observed spectral bandwidth of some FRBs appeared narrow compared with their peak frequencies, which could be used to constrain the radiation mechanism and the astrophysical environment of FRBs. In this work, we investigate some of the possible physical origins of the narrow spectra from the perspectives of intrinsic radiation mechanisms, coherent processes, radiative transfers, and interference processes. We find that: (1) If the observed narrow spectra of FRBs are attributed to the intrinsic radiation mechanism by a single charged particle, the particle’s deflection angle should be much smaller than the radiation beaming angle. (2) Coherent process can cause narrow spectra. For the bunching mechanism, the narrow spectra might arise from the radiating bunches with a quasiperiodic distribution. For the maser mechanism, the negative absorption process can naturally cause a narrow spectrum. (3) Most absorption and scattering processes seem not to significantly change the observed spectra based on the current observation of some FRB repeaters. (4) Scintillation and plasma lensing in the FRB source environment can modulate the spectra, leading to the narrow spectra and the burst-to-burst variation of spectra. A planet-like object can generate the spectral modulation via gravitational lensing at the gigahertz band, but the observed burst-to-burst variation of the spectra does not support this scenario.

Quasiperiodic Peak Energy Oscillations in X-Ray Bursts from SGR J1935+2154

Magnetars are young neutron stars powered by the strongest magnetic fields in the Universe (1013–15 G). Their transient X-ray emission usually manifests as short (a few hundred milliseconds), bright, energetic (∼1040–41 erg) X-ray bursts. Since its discovery in 2014, SGR J1935+2154 has become one of the most prolific magnetars, exhibiting very active bursting episodes and other fascinating events, such as pulse timing antiglitches and fast radio bursts. Here we present evidence for possible 42 Hz (24 ms) quasiperiodic oscillations in the ν F ν spectrum peak energy (E p ) identified in a unique burst detected with the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor in 2022 January. While quasiperiodic oscillations have been previously reported in the intensity of magnetar burst light curves, quasiperiodic oscillations in E p have not. We also find an additional event from the same outburst that appears to exhibit a similar character in E p , albeit of lower statistical quality. For these two exceptional transients, such E p oscillations can be explained by magnetospheric density and pressure perturbations. For burst-emitting plasma consisting purely of e + e − pairs, these acoustic modes propagate along a highly magnetized flux tube of length up to around L ∼ 130 neutron star radii, with L being lower if ions are present in the emission zone. Detailed time-resolved analyses of other magnetar bursts are encouraged to evaluate the rarity of these events and their underlying mechanisms.

A fast radio burst with submillisecond quasi-periodic structure

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are extragalactic radio transients of extraordinary luminosity. Studying the diverse temporal and spectral behaviour recently observed in a number of FRBs may help to determine the nature of the entire class. For example, a fast spinning or highly magnetised neutron star (NS) might generate the rotation-powered acceleration required to explain the bright emission. Periodic, subsecond components suggesting such rotation were recently reported in one FRB, and may also exist in two more. Here we report the discovery of FRB 20201020A with Apertif, an FRB that shows five components regularly spaced by 0.411 ms. This submillisecond structure in FRB 20201020A carries important clues about the progenitor of this FRB specifically, and potentially about the progenitors of FRBs in general. We therefore contrast its features to what is seen in other FRBs and pulsars, and to the predictions of some FRB models. We present a timing analysis of the FRB 20201020A components carried out in order to determine the significance of the periodicity. We compare these against the timing properties of the previously reported CHIME FRBs with subsecond quasi-periodic components, and against two Apertif bursts from repeating FRB 20180916B, which show complex time-frequency structure. We find the periodicity of FRB 20201020A to be marginally significant at 2.4σ. Its repeating subcomponents cannot be explained as pulsar rotation because the required spin rate of over 2 kHz exceeds the limits set by typical NS equations of state and observations. The fast periodicity is also in conflict with a compact object merger scenario. However, these quasi-periodic components could be caused by equidistant emitting regions in the magnetosphere of a magnetar. The submillisecond spacing of the components in FRB 20201020A, the smallest observed so far in a one-off FRB, may rule out both a NS spin period and binary mergers as the direct source of quasi-periodic FRB structure.

A CHIME/FRB Study of Burst Rate and Morphological Evolution of the Periodically Repeating FRB 20180916B

FRB 20180916B is a repeating fast radio burst (FRB) with a 16.3 day periodicity in its activity. In this study, we present morphological properties of 60 FRB 20180916B bursts detected by CHIME/FRB between 2018 August and 2021 December. We recorded raw voltage data for 45 of these bursts, enabling microseconds time resolution in some cases. We studied variation of spectro-temporal properties with time and activity phase. We find that the variation in dispersion measure (DM) is ≲1 pc cm−3 and that there is burst-to-burst variation in scattering time estimates ranging from ∼0.16 to over 2 ms, with no discernible trend with activity phase for either property. Furthermore, we find no DM and scattering variability corresponding to the recent change in rotation measure from the source, which has implications for the immediate environment of the source. We find that FRB 20180916B has thus far shown no epochs of heightened activity as have been seen in other active repeaters by CHIME/FRB, with its burst count consistent with originating from a Poissonian process. We also observe no change in the value of the activity period over the duration of our observations and set a 1σ upper limit of 1.5 × 10−4 day day−1 on the absolute period derivative. Finally, we discuss constraints on progenitor models yielded by our results, noting that our upper limits on changes in scattering and DM as a function of phase do not support models invoking a massive binary companion star as the origin of the 16.3 day periodicity.

OBSERVATIONS OF THE FAST RADIO BURST FRB 20220912A ON THE BSA FIAN AND FAST RADIO TELESCOPES

This paper presents the result of the search for pulses from the fast radio burst FRB 20220912A on the antenna of the BSA FIAN at a frequency of 111 MHz during the period of activity in October-November 2022. As a result of observations, pulses were recorded on October 18, 30 and November 12 with a dispersion measure of \((220 \pm 10)\) pc/cm3 and a peak flux density of 626 Jy, 354 Jy, and 203 Jy, respectively. The registration of the FRB 20220912A radio burst on the FAST radio telescope on October 28 in the frequency range of 1–1.5 GHz is also reported. The data at other frequencies are analyzed, the dependence of the pulse width on the frequency \({{t}_{s}} \sim {{f}^{{ - 2}}}\) is obtained.

Observations of the Fast Radio Burst FRB 20220912A with the LPA LPI and Fast Radio Telescopes

Observations of the Fast Radio Burst FRB 20220912A with the LPA LPI and Fast Radio Telescopes