Bubble-blowing dead stars could create ‘most violent phenomena in the universe’

Scientists have found new evidence linking fast radio bursts (FRBs)—brief, intense energy blasts that outshine entire galaxies—to magnetars, which are highly magnetic neutron stars. These findings suggest that magnetars may emit winds of charged particles strong enough to inflate surrounding bubbles of super-heated plasma, which could be responsible for these powerful bursts of energy. FRBs are notoriously difficult to study because they typically flash once and then vanish, making their origins elusive. However, the discovery of a small number of repeating FRBs has led scientists to question whether both repeating and non-repeating FRBs share the same source or represent different phenomena.

To delve deeper into the origins of FRBs, a team of astronomers focused on FRB 20201124A using the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile’s Atacama Desert. This particular FRB, located approximately 1.3 billion light-years away, has shown repeated episodes of explosive activity, making it an ideal candidate for study. The researchers were able to detect the faintest radio continuum emission associated with an FRB to date, which supports their “nebular model.” According to this model, the radio emissions are produced by a bubble of plasma surrounding the central engine—likely a magnetar—responsible for the bursts.

Magnetars are a type of neutron star that forms when massive stars, at least eight times the mass of the sun, die after exhausting their nuclear fuel. The collapse of these stars results in a highly dense remnant with an incredibly strong magnetic field. The process also accelerates the star’s spin, with some neutron stars rotating as fast as 700 times per second. This extreme environment makes magnetars one of the most powerful magnetic objects in the universe, and they have long been considered potential sources of repeating FRBs.

Despite this, the exact mechanism by which magnetars produce FRBs remains unclear. Theories have ranged from glitches in the neutron star’s rotation to starquakes that release energy when they crack the star’s surface. The recent observations of FRB 20201124A add weight to the idea that nebular winds from magnetars could be the driving force behind FRBs. The detection of continuum emission in the radio spectrum supports the nebular model, suggesting that the plasma and magnetic fields around the FRB engine play a crucial role in generating these bursts.

However, this research does not yet resolve whether repeating and non-repeating FRBs share the same origins. The astronomical community continues to investigate this question, with some indications that all FRBs might have the potential to repeat, though only the most powerful ones are observable. The team’s ongoing research aims to detect more plasma bubbles around other FRBs, further refining the nebular model and enhancing our understanding of these enigmatic cosmic phenomena.

In conclusion, the link between magnetars and FRBs is growing stronger, but many questions remain. As scientists continue to push the limits of current observational technology, future studies may reveal more about the mysterious processes that produce these extraordinary bursts of energy. The team’s findings, published in the journal Nature, represent a significant step forward in this ongoing investigation.

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