A breakthrough study has brought astronomers closer to solving one of the cosmos’s most intriguing mysteries: fast radio bursts (FRBs). Researchers have traced the origin of a powerful FRB detected in 2022 to the magnetosphere of a magnetar a neutron star with an extraordinarily strong magnetic field in a galaxy 200 million light-years away. This marks the first conclusive evidence that FRBs can emerge from the extreme environments of magnetars.
Fast radio bursts, fleeting yet immensely energetic radio wave emissions, have puzzled scientists since their discovery in 2007. These bursts, lasting mere milliseconds, can release more energy than 500 million Suns during their brief duration. While most FRBs are one-time events and notoriously difficult to predict, advancements in tracing techniques are shedding light on their enigmatic origins.
The FRB in question, named FRB 20221022A, was relatively moderate in duration (2 milliseconds) and intensity, making it an ideal candidate for study. By analyzing the “twinkling” effect, or scintillation, of the burst’s light caused by distortions in interstellar gas, researchers pinpointed its source within a 10,000-kilometer region surrounding the magnetar.
“Zooming in to a 10,000-kilometer region from 200 million light-years away is like measuring the width of a DNA helix on the surface of the Moon,” explained physicist Kiyoshi Masui of MIT.
This achievement is significant not only for identifying the source of an FRB but also for demonstrating that radio waves can escape the intense magnetic fields surrounding magnetars—a feat previously debated among scientists.
“In these environments, the magnetic fields are at the limits of what the Universe can produce,” said MIT astrophysicist Kenzie Nimmo. “The energy stored in these fields twists and reconfigures, releasing radio waves that travel halfway across the Universe.”
Supporting evidence came from the polarization of the FRB’s light, which exhibited an S-shaped angle swing consistent with a rotating object, confirming its close proximity to a magnetar.
Magnetars, a rare type of neutron star, boast magnetic fields thousands of times stronger than those of typical neutron stars. These fields are so intense that they obliterate atoms in their vicinity. The study demonstrates how the extreme conditions around magnetars can act as cosmic laboratories, offering insights into the nature of FRBs.
The findings also pave the way for broader investigations into FRBs, including the potential for other celestial objects to generate these bursts. “This scintillation technique will be invaluable for unraveling the diversity of FRBs and understanding the physics behind them,” Masui said.
As scientists continue to probe these mysterious bursts, the discovery underscores the remarkable power and precision of modern astronomical techniques. The research, published in Nature, opens new avenues for exploring the extreme environments of the Universe.
