New research led by astronomers at the University of Toronto has revealed that the mysteries surrounding Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are far more complex than previously thought. By analyzing data from the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), the study found that non-repeating FRBs, which make up 97% of known FRBs, appear to come from galaxies similar to our Milky Way with moderate densities and magnetic fields. This is in contrast to the previous focus on repeating FRBs, which originate in highly dense and magnetized environments.
Previously, radio telescopes were limited in their ability to detect FRBs because they could only see small points in the sky. However, CHIME is able to survey a much larger area of the sky, allowing it to detect both repeating and non-repeating FRBs. This new research provides a fresh perspective on the nature of FRBs, challenging previous assumptions and prompting scientists to reconsider what these cosmic explosions are and how they differ between repeating and non-repeating sources.
FRBs were first detected in 2007 and are identified as intense flashes of energy from distant sources across the universe. Despite cataloguing over 1,000 FRBs, scientists are still unclear about their origins and production mechanisms. By analyzing polarized light from 128 non-repeating FRBs, researchers were able to gain insight into the local environments where these bursts are produced, shedding light on the nature of these elusive cosmic phenomena.
Polarized light consists of waves that vibrate in a single plane, and changes in the direction of polarization over time and with the color of light can provide valuable information about the production and journey of an FRB. By studying these changes, scientists can glean insights into the local density and magnetic strength of the environments from which FRBs originate, offering clues about the nature of these mysterious cosmic events.
The study’s findings suggest that non-repeating FRBs do not share the extreme characteristics of the few repeating sources that have been studied previously. This indicates that they may belong to a separate population or represent more evolved versions of the same population, originating in less extreme environments with a lower burst rate. Collaborating institutions involved in this research include the Dunlap Institute at the University of Toronto, University of California Santa Cruz, University of Amsterdam, and McGill University.
The CHIME project, co-led by the University of British Columbia, McGill University, University of Toronto, and the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, has provided valuable insights into the nature of FRBs and their origins. Located on the traditional territory of the Syilx/Okanagan people and operated by the National Research Council of Canada, the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory continues to contribute to our understanding of the universe and the mysteries it holds.