Fast radio bursts (FRBs), fleeting explosions of radio waves, have puzzled scientists for years. These bursts, lasting milliseconds, can outshine entire galaxies. Their origins have remained unclear since the first FRB was discovered in 2007.
A team of researchers at MIT has now pinpointed the origins of one such burst, FRB 20221022A. The findings, published in Nature, shed light on these cosmic phenomena. The researchers used a unique method involving "scintillation" analysis to trace the burst's exact location.
FRB 20221022A was detected in 2022 by the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME). It came from a galaxy about 200 million light-years away. The team determined the burst emerged from a region near a neutron star, less than 10,000 kilometres away.
Magnetosphere Origins Confirmed for Fast Radio Bursts
This breakthrough confirms FRBs can originate in neutron star magnetospheres. These highly magnetic regions immediately surround compact objects like neutron stars. The study’s findings challenge theories suggesting bursts originate further out, in shockwaves.
Lead author Kenzie Nimmo, from MIT’s Kavli Institute, highlighted the discovery’s significance. “We now have evidence that FRBs emerge from extreme magnetic environments,” Nimmo explained. The magnetic fields around neutron stars are among the universe’s most intense.
Co-author Kiyoshi Masui, an MIT associate professor, elaborated on the role of magnetic energy. “These fields twist and reconfigure, releasing bursts we can detect,” he said. The team’s findings support the idea that FRBs are powered by chaotic magnetospheres.
Scintillation Technique Provides Precision Analysis
The researchers used scintillation to pinpoint the burst’s origin. Scintillation occurs when light passes through a medium, creating a twinkling effect. This technique helped confirm the burst’s source was extremely close to its neutron star.
The team collaborated with McGill University, whose data showed unusual polarisation. The polarisation pattern matched that of pulsars, which are rotating neutron stars. Optical telescope data confirmed the burst originated from a distant galaxy, not a misclassified pulsar.
Masui likened the precision of the findings to measuring microscopic details from vast distances. “It’s like measuring the width of DNA on the moon,” he said.
The study is expected to inspire future research on FRBs. “This technique will help unravel the diverse physics driving these bursts,” Masui added.
Astronomers hope the findings will lead to deeper insights into FRB mechanisms. With CHIME detecting multiple bursts daily, the mystery of FRBs may soon unravel further.
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