Fast space radio impulse observed in real time

As Wikipedia tells us , a fast radio pulse (Fast Radio Bursts or FRB), sometimes called the Lorimer Impulse (Lorimer burst), is a single radio pulse of several milliseconds of cosmic origin. This is a very interesting phenomenon. Scientists believe that within a millisecond of such a flash, more energy goes into space than the Sun radiates in a few million years. In this case, the energy is radiated in a very limited spectrum (in the case of gamma-ray bursts or supernovae, the radiation goes through many spectra at once).

For the first time, the Fast Radio Pulse was recorded in 2007 in Australia . Usually, scientists found sources of fast radio pulses by analyzing data from radio telescopes. Now the observation was conducted in real time (that is, immediately, as soon as the pulse reached the Earth’s atmosphere). It is clear that this impulse was radiated a long time ago - billions of years ago.


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According to experts, the radiation source was located near the constellation of Aquarius at a distance of about 5.5 billion light years from our planet. In this case, the mechanism of the appearance of such flashes remains a mystery. There are two main versions of the origin of FRB. The first theory claims that the source is a very large neutron star, which rotates with tremendous speed. And the speed does not allow the star to collapse, becoming a black hole. Centrifugal forces simply do not allow star matter to fall beyond the horizon of events. Such a star is called a Blitzer.



The second theory says that the source of FRB is a magnetar, also a neutron star, only with a very strong magnetic field.

Scientists suggest that during the emission of energy that feeds FRB, radiation of other bands (including visible light) may also go into space. In this case, using a conventional high-power telescope, you can detect the source of the flash. However, when detecting FRB lenses of telescopes, it is necessary to immediately point to the source in order to fix possible radiation of other types.

In order to clarify the situation with the FRB, scientists will have to detect and analyze a few more such flashes. And for this we need not only knowledge and equipment, but also luck.