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A nearby repeating fast radio burst in the direction of M81

From National Research Council Canada

DOIResolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/abeaa6
AuthorSearch for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3615-3514; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3382-9558; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9345-0307; Search for: 1ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1455-2546; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7348-6900; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2551-7554; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4795-697X; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2548-2926; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5908-3152; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8537-9299; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2047-5276; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3426-7606; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6422-8125; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7166-6422; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8384-5049; Search for: 1; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4209-7408; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4279-6946; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3777-7791; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3616-5160; Search for: ; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7374-7119; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6823-2073; Search for: ; Search for: ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9784-8670; Search for:
Affiliation
  1. National Research Council of Canada. Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics
FormatText, Article
Physical description15 p.
Subjectradio transient sources; radio bursts; transient sources; radio pulsars
Abstract
We report on the discovery of FRB 20200120E, a repeating fast radio burst (FRB) with a low dispersion measure (DM) detected by the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment FRB project. The source DM of 87.82 pc cm⁻³ is the lowest recorded from an FRB to date, yet it is significantly higher than the maximum expected from the Milky Way interstellar medium in this direction (∼50 pc cm⁻³). We have detected three bursts and one candidate burst from the source over the period 2020 January–November. The baseband voltage data for the event on 2020 January 20 enabled a sky localization of the source to within ≃14 arcmin² (90% confidence). The FRB localization is close to M81, a spiral galaxy at a distance of 3.6 Mpc. The FRB appears on the outskirts of M81 (projected offset ∼20 kpc) but well inside its extended H i and thick disks. We empirically estimate the probability of a chance coincidence with M81 to be <10⁻². However, we cannot reject a Milky Way halo origin for the FRB. Within the FRB localization region, we find several interesting cataloged M81 sources and a radio point source detected in the Very Large Array Sky Survey. We search for prompt X-ray counterparts in Swift Burst Alert Telescope and Fermi/GBM data, and, for two of the FRB 20200120E bursts, we rule out coincident SGR 1806−20-like X-ray bursts. Due to the proximity of FRB 20200120E, future follow-up for prompt multiwavelength counterparts and subarcsecond localization could be constraining of proposed FRB models.
Publication date
PublisherIOP
In
  • The Astrophysical Journal Letters 910, no. 2, L18 (1 April 2021).
LanguageEnglish
Peer reviewedYes
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Record identifierc2e6d0ce-c21c-4246-a5d2-c1a0481ebaf5
Record created2022-08-25
Record modified2022-08-25
Date modified: