학술논문
A nearby repeating fast radio burst in the direction of M81
Document Type
Working Paper
Author
Bhardwaj, M.; Gaensler, B. M.; Kaspi, V. M.; Landecker, T. L.; Mckinven, R.; Michilli, D.; Pleunis, Z.; Tendulkar, S. P.; Andersen, B. C.; Boyle, P. J.; Cassanelli, T.; Chawla, P.; Cook, A.; Dobbs, M.; Fonseca, E.; Kaczmarek, J.; Leung, C.; Masui, K.; Münchmeyer, M.; Ng, C.; Rafiei-Ravandi, M.; Scholz, P.; Shin, K.; Smith, K. M.; Stairs, I. H.; Zwaniga, A. V.
Source
Subject
Language
Abstract
We report on the discovery of FRB 20200120E, a repeating fast radio burst (FRB) with low dispersion measure (DM), detected by the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME)/FRB project. The source DM of 87.82 pc cm$^{-3}$ is the lowest recorded from an FRB to date, yet 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 $\simeq$ 14 sq. arcmin (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 $\sim$ 20 kpc) but well inside its extended HI and thick disks. We empirically estimate the probability of 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 (VLASS). We searched for prompt X-ray counterparts in Swift/BAT 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 multi-wavelength counterparts and sub-arcsecond localization could be constraining of proposed FRB models.
Comment: Published to ApJL
Comment: Published to ApJL