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Repeating fast radio burst 20201124A originates from a magnetar/Be star binary

Author

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  • F. Y. Wang

    (Nanjing University
    Key Laboratory of Modern Astronomy and Astrophysics (Nanjing University), Ministry of Education)

  • G. Q. Zhang

    (Nanjing University)

  • Z. G. Dai

    (Nanjing University
    University of Science and Technology of China)

  • K. S. Cheng

    (The University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are cosmic sources emitting millisecond-duration radio bursts. Although several hundreds FRBs have been discovered, their physical nature and central engine remain unclear. The variations of Faraday rotation measure and dispersion measure, due to local environment, are crucial clues to understanding their physical nature. The recent observations on the rotation measure of FRB 20201124A show a significant variation on a day time scale. Intriguingly, the oscillation of rotation measure supports that the local contribution can change sign, which indicates the magnetic field reversal along the line of sight. Here we present a physical model that explains observed characteristics of FRB 20201124A and proposes that repeating signal comes from a binary system containing a magnetar and a Be star with a decretion disk. When the magnetar approaches the periastron, the propagation of radio waves through the disk of the Be star naturally leads to the observed varying rotation measure, depolarization, large scattering timescale, and Faraday conversion. This study will prompt to search for FRB signals from Be/X-ray binaries.

Suggested Citation

  • F. Y. Wang & G. Q. Zhang & Z. G. Dai & K. S. Cheng, 2022. "Repeating fast radio burst 20201124A originates from a magnetar/Be star binary," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-31923-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31923-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bing Zhang, 2020. "The physical mechanisms of fast radio bursts," Nature, Nature, vol. 587(7832), pages 45-53, November.
    2. S. Chatterjee & C. J. Law & R. S. Wharton & S. Burke-Spolaor & J. W. T. Hessels & G. C. Bower & J. M. Cordes & S. P. Tendulkar & C. G. Bassa & P. Demorest & B. J. Butler & A. Seymour & P. Scholz & M. , 2017. "A direct localization of a fast radio burst and its host," Nature, Nature, vol. 541(7635), pages 58-61, January.
    3. L. Lin & C. F. Zhang & P. Wang & H. Gao & X. Guan & J. L. Han & J. C. Jiang & P. Jiang & K. J. Lee & D. Li & Y. P. Men & C. C. Miao & C. H. Niu & J. R. Niu & C. Sun & B. J. Wang & Z. L. Wang & H. Xu &, 2020. "No pulsed radio emission during a bursting phase of a Galactic magnetar," Nature, Nature, vol. 587(7832), pages 63-65, November.
    4. C. D. Bochenek & V. Ravi & K. V. Belov & G. Hallinan & J. Kocz & S. R. Kulkarni & D. L. McKenna, 2020. "A fast radio burst associated with a Galactic magnetar," Nature, Nature, vol. 587(7832), pages 59-62, November.
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