A Comparative Study of Host Galaxy Properties Between Fast Radio Bursts and Stellar Transients

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-10-2020

Publication Title

The Astrophysical Journal Letters

Volume

899

Issue

1

First page number:

1

Last page number:

12

Abstract

Recent arcsecond localizations of Fast Radio Bursts and identifications of their host galaxies confirmed their extragalactic origin.While FRB 121102 resides in the bright region of a dwarf star forming galaxy, other FRBs reside in more massive galaxies and are related to older stellar populations. We compare the host galaxy properties of {nine} FRBs with those of several types of stellar transients: from young to old population, long duration gamma ray bursts (LGRBs), superluminous supernovae (SLSNe), Type Ib/Ic supernovae (SN Ibc), Type II supernovae (SN II), type Ia supernovae (SN Ia), and short duration gamma ray bursts (SGRBs). We find that as a whole sample, the stellar mass and star formation rate of the FRB host galaxies prefer a medium to old population, and are against a young population similar to LGRBs and SLSNe by a null probability 0.02. Individually, the FRB 121102 host is consistent with that of young population objects; the FRB 180924 environment is similar to that of SGRBs; and the FRB 190523 environment is similar to those of SN Ia. These results are consistent with the magnetar engine model for FRBs, if both magnetars produced from extreme explosions (GRBs/SLSNe) and from regular channels (e.g. those producing Galactic magnetars) can produce FRBs.

Keywords

Radio Transient Sources

Disciplines

Astrophysics and Astronomy | Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Language

English

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