The Euclidean distribution of fast radio bursts. Issue 1 (10th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oppermann, Niels; Connor, Liam D.; Pen, Ue-Li
• Is Part Of: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Volume 461:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 984
• Page End: 987
• Publication Date: 2016-06-10
• Subjects: methods: statistical -- pulsars: general; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stw1401
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-8711

Abstract

Abstract: We investigate whether current data on the distribution of observed flux densities of fast radio bursts (FRBs) are consistent with a constant source density in Euclidean space. We use the number of FRBs detected in two surveys with different characteristics along with the observed signal-to-noise ratios of the detected FRBs in a formalism similar to a V / V max -test to constrain the distribution of flux densities. We find consistency between the data and a Euclidean distribution. Any extension of this model is therefore not data-driven and needs to be motivated separately. As a byproduct we also obtain new improved limits for the FRB rate at 1.4 GHz, which had not been constrained in this way before.