A fast radio burst with frequency-dependent polarization detected during Breakthrough Listen observations. Issue 3 (8th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Price, D C; Foster, G; Geyer, M; van Straten, W; Gajjar, V; Hellbourg, G; Karastergiou, A; Keane, E F; Siemion, A P V; Arcavi, I; Bhat, R; Caleb, M; Chang, S-W; Croft, S; DeBoer, D; de Pater, I; Drew, J; Enriquez, J E; Farah, W; Gizani, N; Green, J A; Isaacson, H; Hickish, J; Jameson, A; Lebofsky, M; MacMahon, D H E; Möller, A; Onken, C A; Petroff, E; Werthimer, D; Wolf, C; Worden, S P; Zhang, Y G;
• Is Part Of: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Volume 486:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 3636
• Page End: 3646
• Publication Date: 2019-04-08
• Subjects: methods: data analysis -- methods: observational; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stz958
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-8711

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Here, we report on the detection and verification of fast radio burst FRB 180301, which occurred on utc 2018 March 1 during the Breakthrough Listen observations with the Parkes telescope. Full-polarization voltage data of the detection were captured – a first for non-repeating FRBs – allowing for coherent de-dispersion and additional verification tests. The coherently de-dispersed dynamic spectrum of FRB 180301 shows complex, polarized frequency structure over a small fractional bandwidth. As FRB 180301 was detected close to the geosynchronous satellite band during a time of known 1–2 GHz satellite transmissions, we consider whether the burst was due to radio interference emitted or reflected from an orbiting object. Based on the pre-ponderance of our verification tests, we cannot conclusively determine FRB 180301 to be either astrophysical or anthropogenic in origin.