Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) were a mysterious phenomenon when first detected in 2007, characterized by brief radio emissions followed by silence. Researchers have been studying their properties, focusing on magnetars – neutron stars with intense magnetic fields. However, the exact mechanism behind FRBs remains unknown.
A recent observation of a single FRB, FRB 20221022A, has provided new insights into its origins. Detected in October 2022 by the CHIME observatory, this event was localized to a specific galaxy due to its proximity – about 200 million light-years away. This close location allowed for detailed analysis of the burst’s properties.
The observation suggests that FRBs originate near their associated neutron star and share a feature with pulsars, another type of neutron star emission. This finding is significant as it sheds light on the nature of these mysterious events. Further research is needed to determine if magnetars are necessary for FRBs or if other types of neutron stars can trigger them.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/01/new-findings-get-us-closer-to-knowing-what-causes-radio-bursts