FRB strength distribution challenges the cosmological principle

  • J. I. Katz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The distribution of fast radio burst (FRB) fluxes and fluences is characterized by a few very bright events and a deficiency of fainter events, compared to expectations for a homogeneous space-filling distribution. I define a metric to quantify this, and apply it to the 17 presently known Parkes FRB, products of a comparatively homogeneous search. With 98 per cent confidence, we reject the hypothesis of a homogeneous distribution in Euclidean space. Possible explanations include a reduction of fainter events by cosmological redshifts or evolution or a cosmologically local concentration of events. The former is opposed by the small value of the one known FRB redshift. The latter contradicts the Cosmological Principle, but may be explained if the brighter FRB originates in the Local Supercluster.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)L85-L88
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Volume472
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 21 2017

Keywords

  • Large-scale structure of Universe
  • Radio continuum: General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'FRB strength distribution challenges the cosmological principle'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this