Origins of Fast Radio Bursts

• 26 May 2023

Recently, a study by a team of astronomers uncovered significant insights into fast radio bursts (FRBs).

About FRBs: FRBs are fleeting bursts of radio waves from distant galaxies that have puzzled scientists for over 15 years.

About the Study: The study focused on a repeating FRB, FRB 20190520B, allowing researchers to investigate its local environment and shed light on its sources.

Key Findings

• Highly Variable Faraday Rotation Measure: The FRB’s Faraday rotation measure – an indicator of its magnetic field strength – was highly variable.
• Researchers observed two instances of magnetic field reversal, suggesting that the FRB source orbits a binary star system with a massive star or black hole companion.
• Variations in Magnetic Field Strength: The observations also revealed variations in magnetic field strength and electron density around the FRB source, indicating a turbulent and magnetized plasma environment.
• Wind Emitted by a Massive Companion Star: Models constructed by the scientists attribute these variations to a wind emitted by a massive companion star in the binary system.
• FRB Originated from a Binary System: This study provides compelling evidence that this FRB originated from a binary system, and it suggests that all repeating FRBs may be associated with binaries, albeit with different local conditions.
• Understanding changes in the magnetized environment around FRBs is crucial for revealing their origins.