Multiwavelength constraints on the origin of a nearby repeating fast radio burst source in a globular cluster

The precise origins of fast radio bursts (FRBs) remain unknown. Multiwavelength observations of nearby FRB sources can provide important insights into the enigmatic FRB phenomenon. Here we present results from a sensitive, broadband X-ray and radio observational campaign of FRB 20200120E, the closest known extragalactic repeating FRB source (located 3.63 Mpc away in an ~10-Gyr-old globular cluster). We place deep limits on the persistent and prompt X-ray emission from FRB 20200120E, which we use to constrain possible origins for the source. We compare our results with various classes of X-ray sources, transients and FRB models. We find that FRB 20200120E is unlikely to be associated with ultraluminous X-ray bursts, magnetar-like giant flares or an SGR 1935+2154-like intermediate flare. Although other types of bright magnetar-like intermediate flares and short X-ray bursts would have been detectable from FRB 20200120E during our observations, we cannot entirely rule them out as a class. We show that FRB 20200120E is unlikely to be powered by an ultraluminous X-ray source or a young extragalactic pulsar embedded in a Crab-like nebula. We also provide new constraints on the compatibility of FRB 20200120E with accretion-based FRB models involving X-ray binaries. These results highlight the power of multiwavelength observations of nearby FRBs for discriminating between FRB models.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Astronomy
Published
2024-11-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-024-02386-6
Citations
19
Primary Topic
Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
6.30

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article

Multiwavelength constraints on the origin of a nearby repeating fast radio burst source in a globular cluster

Paul Scholz, Daniele Michilli, Kiyoshi W. Masui, Jane Kaczmarek et al.
19 citations
Nature Astronomy
Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
6.30
article

Multiwavelength constraints on the origin of a nearby repeating fast radio burst source in a globular cluster

Paul Scholz, Daniele Michilli, Kiyoshi W. Masui, Jane Kaczmarek, Bradley W. Meyers, Suryarao Bethapudi, Calvin Leung, Kaitlyn Shin, Kenzie Nimmo, B. M. Gaensler, Shriharsh P. Tendulkar, Tarraneh Eftekhari, V. M. Kaspi, Ingrid H. Stairs, L. G. Spitler, Amanda M. Cook, Shami Chatterjee, Alice P. Curtin, Franz Kirsten, Chia Min Tan, Ketan R. Sand, Thomas A. Prince, Mohit Bhardwaj, Kendrick M. Smith, Aaron B. Pearlman, Tolga Güver, Emmanuel Fonseca, Fengqiu Adam Dong, Jason W. T. Hessels
article en
19 citations

Abstract

The precise origins of fast radio bursts (FRBs) remain unknown. Multiwavelength observations of nearby FRB sources can provide important insights into the enigmatic FRB phenomenon. Here we present results from a sensitive, broadband X-ray and radio observational campaign of FRB 20200120E, the closest known extragalactic repeating FRB source (located 3.63 Mpc away in an ~10-Gyr-old globular cluster). We place deep limits on the persistent and prompt X-ray emission from FRB 20200120E, which we use to constrain possible origins for the source. We compare our results with various classes of X-ray sources, transients and FRB models. We find that FRB 20200120E is unlikely to be associated with ultraluminous X-ray bursts, magnetar-like giant flares or an SGR 1935+2154-like intermediate flare. Although other types of bright magnetar-like intermediate flares and short X-ray bursts would have been detectable from FRB 20200120E during our observations, we cannot entirely rule them out as a class. We show that FRB 20200120E is unlikely to be powered by an ultraluminous X-ray source or a young extragalactic pulsar embedded in a Crab-like nebula. We also provide new constraints on the compatibility of FRB 20200120E with accretion-based FRB models involving X-ray binaries. These results highlight the power of multiwavelength observations of nearby FRBs for discriminating between FRB models.

Nature AstronomyVol. 9(1)
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CA), Northwestern University (US), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (IN), West Virginia University (US), California Institute of Technology (US), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU), University of British Columbia (CA), National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (IN), Perimeter Institute (CA), University of California, Santa Cruz (US), University of Toronto (CA), York University (CA), Curtin University (AU), Cornell University (US), Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CA), Centre for Global Health Research (CA), Astronomy and Space (AU), Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (DE), International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (AU), McGill University (CA), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US), Chalmers University of Technology (SE), Istanbul University (TR), Carnegie Mellon University (US), Okanagan University College (CA), University of Amsterdam (NL), Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (NL), University of California, Berkeley (US)
National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, McGill University, Space Telescope Science Institute, European Commission, Canada Research Chairs, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Canada Excellence Research Chairs, Government of Canada, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, University of Toronto, Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, McGill Space Institute, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies
Openalex Percentile: Top 3%
Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
6.30
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