A seemingly ordinary flicker unveils the source of a mysterious cosmic phenomenon

Scientists have long been puzzled by fast radio bursts (FRBs), and a simple flicker has now pinpointed their origin in the cosmos.

the enigma of fast radio bursts

Since 2007, astronomers have been captivated by a puzzling phenomenon: brief, highly energetic radio wave explosions known as fast radio bursts (FRBs). These events last no more than a millisecond but carry energy that can outshine an entire galaxy. Thousands have been detected, some from within our Milky Way, others from as far as 8 billion light-years away.

The most distant FRB recorded released energy equivalent to what the Sun emits over 30 years. The astronomical community has speculated that only extremely compact objects could trigger such powerful emissions. Candidates include neutron stars or black holes. However, the debate continues about their exact origin.

a breakthrough discovery

Recently, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) made a groundbreaking revelation regarding this cosmic mystery. In studies published in ‘Nature,’ they detailed their analysis of FRB 20221022A, detected in 2022. This burst lasted just two milliseconds and was traced back to a galaxy around 200 million light-years away from Earth.

The team employed an innovative technique to pinpoint its precise location, finding it originated less than 10,000 kilometers from a neutron star—comparable to the distance between Paris and Los Angeles. According to MIT physicist Kiyoshi Masui, this is akin to measuring the width of DNA on the Moon’s surface.

This discovery supports the hypothesis that FRBs emanate from the star’s turbulent magnetosphere. The intense magnetic fields near such stars twist and reconfigure dramatically, releasing energy as detectable radio waves.

magnetars as potential sources

This finding bolsters one theory suggesting that FRBs originate close to compact objects like magnetars. A subtype of neutron stars formed from remnants of massive stellar cores post-supernova explosion, magnetars possess external magnetic fields up to 1,000 times stronger than typical neutron stars.

• The other hypothesis proposed FRB origins much farther away through shock wave propagation.

An artist’s depiction of a neutron star emitting an FRB shows how traversing dense galactic plasma causes signal luminosity flickering. This scintillation effect helped researchers conclude their study.

scintillation: key insight into frb sources

The phenomenon allowing researchers clarity on FRB origins is scintillation—light flickering when passing through mediums like gases in galaxies makes stars twinkle while planets remain steady due solely due proximity differences relative size ratios within our Solar System setup contextually explaining underlying mechanics involved process itself effectively demonstrating behavior certain celestial formations exhibit under specific conditions met resulting observed outcomes noted documented above conclusively establishing direct correlations previously unconfirmed scenarios hitherto regarded speculative nature only theoretically posited literature prior publication current findings now available public scrutiny review enabling further advancements field knowledge understanding exploration ongoing efforts continue pushing boundaries scientific inquiry pursuance truth ultimately benefiting humanity collective quest enlightenment progress shared aspirations common good future generations 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