Two international groups of astronomers have published new data on the famous fast Radio Spex FRB20180916B, which unexpectedly discovered the low-frequency radiation uncharacteristic for phenomenon. The results published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters and Nature Astronomy magazines disclose the possible nature of the splash source. Briefly on research is described in a press release on phys.org.
FRB was observed with the help of the European network of LOFAR radio telescope, tuned to the range from 110 to 188 megahertz, which is the lowest frequency that the antennas could take. Scientists managed to catch 18 bursts, although usually FRB emit radio emission at high frequencies. Thus, the source broke the low frequency record, although astronomers suspect that it can emit even lower-frequency radio waves.
Low frequency bursts came later than high-frequency radio emission. Such a frequency indicates that the source of the FRB20180916B is a double system, one of which is a neutron star. According to the results of the observation of another group of scientists, radio spells have a microstructure, and radiation by 80 percent is linearly polarized. A logical explanation of this variation is the “dancing” neutron star magnetosphere. This, in turn, makes it possible to exclude the scenario along which radiation occurs on a high distance from the object due to relativistic shock waves created by particles, accelerated magnetic field of the neutron star and interacting with the interstellar medium.
FRB20180916B, found in 2018, is located at a distance of 500 million light years, which is close enough for the source that highlights a huge amount of energy. Radio spells have a periodic character: they are repeated every 16 days, and radiation is allocated for four days with a period of relative rest in 12 days. This predictability makes it a convenient object for research.
Quick radio spells occur within a few milliseconds and is accompanied by a huge amount of energy in the outer space – such that the sun eats for several tens of thousands of years. Most researchers suggest that this mysterious phenomenon has natural causes, such as supernova outbreaks, collision of neutron stars, active black holes or magnets. However, there is an exotic hypothesis connecting FRB with technologically developed civilizations.