Periodic Fast Radio Bursts with Neutron Star Free Precession
J. J. Zanazzi, Dong Lai
Abstract
Abstract The CHIME/FRB collaboration recently reported the detection of a 16 day periodicity in the arrival times of radio bursts from FRB 180916.J0158+65. We study the possibility that the observed periodicity arises from free precession of a magnetized neutron star, and put constraints on different components of the star’s magnetic fields. Using a simple geometric model, where radio bursts are emitted from a rotating neutron star magnetosphere, we show that the emission pattern as a function of time can match that observed from FRB 180916.J0158+65.
Topics & Concepts
PhysicsNeutron starPrecessionAstrophysicsGamma-ray burstSimple (philosophy)Function (biology)NeutronRadio waveAstronomyComputational physicsPulsarStar (game theory)Pulsars and Gravitational Waves ResearchGamma-ray bursts and supernovaeAstrophysical Phenomena and Observations