Fast Radio Burst 121102 Update 01/15/18

TL;DR

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are powerful bursts of radio energy that last fractions of a second, with one particular FRB known as FRB 121102 repeating dozens of times. The source of these bursts, though unlikely to be of alien origin, remains a mystery. The bursts originate from a small galaxy about 3 billion light years away, and their extreme power suggests a natural cataclysm as the cause.

Transcript

The mystery of fast radio bursts is a relatively recent one, before 2007 we didn’t even know they existed. They come in the form of extremely powerful bursts of radio energy that tends to last fractions of a second, but in one case they have been seen to repeat. The source is FRB 121102, which continues to repeat and has been observed doing so doze... Read More

Key Insights

• 💨 Fast radio bursts (FRBs) were discovered relatively recently, and their existence was unknown prior to 2007.
• 👽 FRB 121102 is the only known repeating FRB and is of interest to SETI for its potential alien origin.
• ✊ The extreme power of FRBs makes it unlikely to be used for communication by civilizations, as it would disrupt their own communications.
• 🛩️ FRB 121102 originates from a small galaxy about 3 billion light years away, suggesting a natural cataclysm rather than artificial signals as the cause.
• ✴️ The bursts are distorted by a dense, magnetically charged plasma field, possibly indicating the presence of a neutron star or magnetar orbiting a black hole.
• 🙌 The bursts only appear in radio frequencies and are not detected in X-Ray or Gamma ray frequencies.
• ❓ The bursts cluster in unusual patterns, and it is uncertain if all bursts have the same origin or mechanism.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are fast radio bursts (FRBs)?

FRBs are powerful bursts of radio energy that last only fractions of a second.

Q: How common are repeating FRBs?

Repeating FRBs are relatively rare, with FRB 121102 being the only known repeating FRB.

Q: Could FRB 121102 be of alien origin?

While the possibility cannot be ruled out, the extreme power of these bursts suggests a natural cataclysm as the cause, making an alien origin unlikely.

Q: Why are these bursts significant for SETI?

Repeating signals are of interest to the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) as they could indicate intelligent alien civilizations trying to communicate.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are bursts of powerful radio energy that last for only fractions of a second, with FRB 121102 being the only known repeating FRB.

• FRB 121102 originates from a small galaxy about 3 billion light years away, suggesting the possibility of an alien civilization sending signals, although this is unlikely.

• The bursts are extremely powerful, causing disruptions to communications and are likely the result of natural cataclysmic events rather than artificial signals.