Binary Star System Identified as Source of Repeating Fast Radio Bursts

Astronomers have identified a binary star system as the source of a repeating fast radio burst, rewriting theories about these cosmic phenomena.

Using the FAST telescope, researchers monitored FRB 220529A for 17 months and detected a sudden 'RM flare'—a 100-fold increase in rotation measure (RM)—caused by plasma ejected from a companion star.

This finding challenges previous assumptions that fast radio bursts (FRBs) originate from isolated objects. The RM then rapidly declined over two weeks, returning to its previous level, a pattern consistent with coronal mass ejections (CMEs) observed in stars within the Milky Way.

Professor Bing Zhang stated:

"This finding provides a definitive clue to the origin of at least some repeating FRBs."

Dr. Ye Li added:

"The RM then rapidly declined over two weeks, returning to its previous level."

Professor Yuanpei Yang noted:

"The required plasma clump is consistent with CMEs launched by the Sun and other stars in the Milky Way."

However, the study's conclusions rely on a single source, limiting the generalizability of the results. No independent expert commentary was included in the source.

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