The Northern Cross Fast Radio Burst project: III. The FRB-magnetar connection in a sample of nearby galaxies

Journal
Date Issued
2023
Author(s)
Pelliciari, D.
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Addis, A.
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Lulli, R.
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Magro, A.
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Setti, G.
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DOI
Abstract
Context. Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond radio transients observed at cosmological distances. The nature of their progenitors is still a matter of debate, although magnetars are invoked by most models. The proposed FRB-magnetar connection was strengthened by the discovery of an FRB-like event from the Galactic magnetar SGR J1935+2154. Aims. In this work we aim to investigate how prevalent magnetars such as SGR J1935+2154 are within FRB progenitors. Methods. To this end, we carried out an FRB search in a sample of seven nearby (< 12 Mpc) galaxies with the Northern Cross Radio Telescope for a total of 692 h. Results. We detected one 1.8 ms burst in the direction of M 101 with a fluence of 58±5 Jy ms. Its dispersion measure of 303 pc cm3 places it most likely beyond M 101. Considering that no significant detection comes indisputably from the selected galaxies, we place a 38 yr1 upper limit on the total burst rate (i.e. including the whole sample) at the 95% confidence level. This upper limit constrains the event rate per magnetar to λmag < 0.42 magnetar1 yr1 or, if combined with literature observations of a similar sample of nearby galaxies, it yields a joint constraint of λmag < 0.25 magnetar1 yr1. We also provide the first constraints on the expected rate of FRBs hypothetically originating from ultra-luminous X-ray (ULX) sources, since some of the galaxies observed during our observational campaign host confirmed ULXs. We obtain < 13 yr1 per ULX for the total sample of galaxies observed. Conclusions. Our results indicate that bursts with energies Ea >a 1034 erg from magnetars such as SGR J1935+2154 appear more rarely compared to previous observations and further disfavour them as unique progenitors for the cosmological FRB population. This provides support to the idea that there is a greater contribution from a population of more exotic magnetars not born via core-collapsed supernovae.
Volume
674
Start page
A223
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
0004-6361
Rights
open.access
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