Estimate of an environmental magnetic field of fast radio bursts. (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lin, Wei-Li; Dai, Zi-Gao
• Is Part Of: Research in astronomy and astrophysics. Volume 16:Number 3(2016:Mar.)
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: radio continuum: general -- pulsars: general -- galaxies: magnetic fields -- Galaxy: structure; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Astrophysics -- Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1088/1674-4527/16/3/038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1674-4527

Abstract

Abstract: Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are a type of newly-discovered transient astronomical phenomenon. They have short durations, high dispersion measures and a high event rate. However, due to unknown distances and undetected electromagnetic counterparts at other wavebands, it is difficult to further investigate FRBs. Here we propose a method to study their environmental magnetic field using an indirect method. Starting with dispersion measures and rotation measures (RMs), we try to obtain the parallel magnetic field component B ̅‖ which is the average value along the line of sight in the host galaxy. Because both RMs and redshifts are now unavailable, we demonstrate the dependence of B ̅‖ on these two separate quantities. This result, if the RM and redshift of an FRB are measured, would be expected to provide a clue towards understanding an environmental magnetic field of an FRB.