Fast radio bursts (FRBs), which are known to be short but powerful emissions of radio waves, have been traced to extremely compact cosmic objects, including neutron stars and possibly black holes. These bursts, lasting only a millisecond, are enormously energetic, rivaling the brightness of entire galaxies. Their origins have long puzzled astronomers, with discoveries as far as 8 billion light-years from our galaxy. A recent breakthrough has narrowed the source of at least one FRB to a highly magnetized region around a neutron star.

Study the origin of FRB 20221022A.

According to one study Published in Nature, a team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) examined FRB 20221022A, which was detected bursting from a galaxy 200 million light-years away. By analyzing its flicker – a phenomenon that causes light to appear to glow – the researchers identified its origin as being within 10,000 kilometers of the neutron star, a region known as the magnetosphere. This is the first conclusive evidence of FRBs emerging from such a region.

Insights from scintillation analysis

As Reported According to Phys.org , the study revealed that the burst showed huge variations in brightness, indicating scintillation caused by gas within its host galaxy. This gas acted as a lens, allowing researchers to determine the burst’s proximity to its source. Lead author Dr. Kenzie Nimmo from MIT explained the importance of locating the source millions of kilometers from the source, contradicting theories of shock wave origin.

Polarization patterns suggest rotation.

Collaborators at McGill University found the burst’s light to be highly polarized, creating an S-shaped curve — typical of neutron stars. has a rotating feature, also known as a pulsar. This finding further supports the conclusion that FRBs originate from highly magnetized environments.

Potential for future research

The study, involving Dr. Kiyoshi Masui and other experts, highlights the potential of scintillation as a tool to identify the origins of FRBs. These findings pave the way for understanding the diverse physics behind these mysterious bursts, which are detected daily by modern telescopes like CHIME.