The Astrophysical Journal· 2026Q1
A Unified Model of Active Repeating Fast Radio Bursts Associated with Persistent Radio Sources
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- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
A new model proposes active repeating Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) with persistent radio sources (PRSs) originate from young magnetars in massive binary systems embedded in supernova remnants, explaining diverse DM/RM variations and PRS luminosities.
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Key points
- A unified model is proposed for active repeating FRBs with persistent radio sources (PRSs).
- The model posits young magnetars in massive binary systems, embedded in supernova remnants, as the central engines.
- This model explains diverse dispersion measure (DM) and rotation measure (RM) variations observed in repeating FRBs.
- Magnetar wind nebulae are identified as the source of bright PRSs, with fading luminosity explaining less luminous PRSs from older magnetars.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are intense pulses with unknown origins. A subclass of repeating FRBs show some common features, such as associated compact persistent radio sources (PRSs), high burst rates, and large host-galaxy dispersion measures (DMs). Meanwhile, they show diverse DM and rotation measure (RM) variations, which cannot be explained by current models. A unified model urgently needs to be established. Here we show the first evidence for a supernova remnant surrounding the FRB 20190520B source. We then demonstrate that the five active repeating FRB sources associated with PRSs can be understood within a single model in which central objects are young magnetars in massive binary systems embedded in supernova remnants. This model naturally predicts distinct variations of DM and RM for repeating FRBs. Crucially, young magnetar wind nebulae can generate bright PRSs. As a magnetar becomes older, the luminosity of a PRS will fade, which can naturally explain less-luminous PRSs for some active FRBs. Our results support a unified population of active FRBs in dynamic magnetized environments.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. The Astrophysical Journal, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy and AstrophysicsPhysics and Astronomy