An Update on the Mysterious Flashes of FRB 180916
Abstract
Earlier this year, we gained new insight into the origins of fast radio bursts (FRBs) when FRB 180916 became the first of these strange sources observed to exhibit repeated bursts in a periodic pattern.Now, were taking a look at four recent studies detailing some of the latest observations and theories of FRB 180916 and what this tells us about the population of FRBs as a whole.What Do We Already Know About FRB 180916?FRBs are incredibly energetic bursts of radio waves that last just a few milliseconds and originate from extragalactic sources. Weve detected more than 100 of them, and this number is growing rapidly. Yet despite these observations, we still dont know what causes FRBs though we have dozens of theories.The location of FRB 180916 is in a galaxys spiral arm, marked with a green circle in this image from the Gemini-North telescope. [NSFs Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory/Gemini Observatory/AURA]The majority of the FRBs weve detected are one-off events, but a growing number have been observed to flash repeatedly usually in a wildly unpredictable fashion. Recently, however, the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) radio telescope announced the first detection of a periodic pattern in one repeating FRBs bursts.The intriguing source is FRB 180916, a repeating FRB thats under 500 million light-years away. CHIMEs recent observations of FRB 180916 indicate that its activity is modulated by a 16.35-day period: its bursts fall within an active window of about 5 days, and then the source is quiet for about 11 days before restarting activity.This new information is helping scientists narrow the possible explanations of what causes FRBs but other recent observations have provided additional insight.New Clues from Multiple TelescopesIn two new studies led by Maura Pilia (INAF Cagliari Observatory, Italy) and Pragya Chawla (McGill University, Canada), independent teams have now detected the lowest-frequency observations of radio bursts from FRB 180916 or, indeed, of any FRB yet.A profile of one of the bursts from FRB 180916 detected by the Sardinia Radio Telescope. [Adapted from Pilia et al. 2020]Pilia and collaborators observed three bursts at 328 MHz using the Sardinia Radio Telescope in Italy, and Chawla and collaborators observed seven bursts in the 300400 MHz frequency band using the Green Bank Telescope in Virginia.These observations tell us two main things:The environment surrounding the source of the bursts doesnt significantly affect the emission we see.The lower-energy cutoff for the emission from FRB 180916s bursting mechanism is lower than we thought it was if there is even a cutoff at all!These clues work to constrain the possible models of FRB sources for instance, rendering the models that predict dense environments around the source, such as young supernova remnants, unlikely. Some models still seem highly plausible, however and highly magnetized neutron stars are looking especially appealing.Analyzing a Plausible ExplanationTwo independent theoretical studies one by J.J. Zanazzi (CITA, University of Toronto) and Dong Lai (Cornell University and UC Berkeley), and the other by a team of researchers led by Yuri Levin (Columbia University, Flatiron Institute; Monash University, Australia) recently focused on the picture of a lone, spinning neutron star threaded with a strong magnetic field.Schematic showing how a precession-driven wobble of a magnetar can lead to magnetic flares that move in and out of our line of sight. [Levin et al. 2020]Both studies demonstrate that such a magnetar can become deformed by its internal magnetic field, causing it to wobble as it rotates, precessing around its rotational axis. As this hyperactive star releases magnetic flares, we then see those bursts only periodically as the precession of the star brings them into and out of our view.This picture is consistent with the periodic radio emission weve detected thus far. Whats more, we may be able to test this theory soon, since magnetized neutron stars are expected to gradually spin slower over their lifetimes. If such an object is the source of FRB 180916, then wed expect to see a detectable increase in the periodic modulation of the bursts within a year.Theres still work to do, but with growing observations and the possibility now of exploring at even lower frequencies its exciting to watch our progress toward an explanation for these mysterious bursts!CitationDetection of Repeating FRB 180916.J0158+65 Down to Frequencies of 300 MHz, P. Chawla et al 2020 ApJL 896 L41. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ab96bfThe Lowest-frequency Fast Radio Bursts: Sardinia Radio Telescope Detection of the Periodic FRB 180916 at 328 MHz, M. Pilia et al 2020 ApJL 896 L40. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ab96c0Periodic Fast Radio Bursts with Neutron Star Free Precession, J. J. Zanazzi and Dong Lai 2020 ApJL 892 L15. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ab7cddPrecessing Flaring Magnetar as a Source of Repeating FRB 180916.J0158+65, Yuri Levin et al 2020 ApJL 895 L30. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ab8c4c
- Publication:
-
AAS Nova Highlights
- Pub Date:
- July 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020nova.pres.6769K
- Keywords:
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- Features;
- Highlights;
- fast radio bursts;
- magnetar;
- magnetic fields;
- neutron stars;
- radio