A polarized fast radio burst at low Galactic latitude

Petroff, E.; Burke-Spolaor, S.; Keane, E. F.; Mclaughlin, M. A.; Miller, R.; Andreoni, I.; Bailes, M.; Barr, E. D.; Bernard, S. R.; Bhandari, S.; Bhat, N. D. R.; Burgay, M.; Caleb, M.; Champion, D.; Chandra, P.; Cooke, J.; Dhillon, V. S.; Farnes, J. S.; Hardy, L. K.; Jaroenjittichai, P.; Johnston, S.; Kasliwal, M.; Kramer, M.; Littlefair, S. P.; Macquart, J. P.; Mickaliger, M.; Possenti, A.; Pritchard, T.; Ravi, V.; Rest, A.; Rowlinson, A.; Sawangwit, U.; Stappers, B.; Sullivan, M.; Tiburzi, C.; van Straten, W.; Albert, A.; Andrã©, M.; Anghinolfi, M.; Anton, G.; Ardid, M.; Aubert, J. -. J.; Avgitas, T.; Baret, B.; Barrios-MartÃ­, J.; Basa, S.; Bertin, V.; Biagi, S.; Bormuth, R.; Bourret, S.; Bouwhuis, M. C.; Bruijn, R.; Brunner, J.; Busto, J.; Capone, A.; Caramete, L.; Carr, J.; Celli, S.; Chiarusi, T.; Circella, M.; Coelho, J. A. B.; Coleiro, A.; Coniglione, R.; Costantini, H.; Coyle, P.; Creusot, A.; Deschamps, A.; De Bonis, G.; Distefano, C.; Di Palma, I.; Donzaud, C.; Dornic, D.; Drouhin, D.; Eberl, T.; El Bojaddaini, I.; Elsasser, D.; Enzenhã¶fer, A.; Felis, I.; Fusco, L. A.; Galatã , S.; Gay, P.; Geiãÿelsã¶der, S.; Geyer, K.; Giordano, V.; Gleixner, A.; Glotin, H.; Grã©goire, T.; Gracia-Ruiz, R.; Graf, K.; Hallmann, S.; van Haren, H.; Heijboer, A. J.; Hello, Y.; HernÃ¡ndez-Rey, J. J.; Hã¶bl, J.; Hofestã¤dt, J.; Hugon, C.; Illuminati, G.; James, C. W.; de Jong, M.; Jongen, M.; Kadler, M.; Kalekin, O.; Katz, U.; Kiebling, D.; Kouchner, A.; Kreter, M.; Kreykenbohm, I.; Kulikovskiy, V.; Lachaud, C.; Lahmann, R.; Lefãvre, D.; Leonora, E.; Lotze, M.; Loucatos, S.; Marcelin, M.; Margiotta, A.; Marinelli, A.; MartÃ­nez-Mora, J. A.; Mathieu, A.; Mele, R.; Melis, K.; Michael, T.; Migliozzi, P.; Moussa, A.; Mueller, C.; Nezri, E.; Päƒväƒlaåÿ, G. E.; Pellegrino, C.; Perrina, C.; Piattelli, P.; Popa, V.; Pradier, T.; Quinn, L.; Racca, C.; Riccobene, G.; Roensch, K.; Åšanchez-Losa, A.; Saldaã±a, M.; Salvadori, I.; Samtleben, D. F. E.; Sanguineti, M.; Sapienza, P.; Schnabel, J.; Seitz, T.; Sieger, C.; Spurio, M.; Stolarczyk, T.; Taiuti, M.; Tayalati, Y.; Trovato, A.; Tselengidou, M.; Turpin, D.; Tã¶nnis, C.; Vallage, B.; Vallã©e, C.; Van Elewyck, V.; Vivolo, D.; Vizzoca, A.; Wagner, S.; Wilms, J.; Zornoza, J. D.; Å¹uã±iga, J.; Abdalla, H.; Abramowski, A.; Aharonian, F.; Ait Benkhali, F.; Akhperjanian, A. G.; Andersson, T.; Angã¼ner, E. O.; Arrieta, M.; Aubert, P.; Backes, M.; Balzer, A.; Barnard, M.; Becherini, Y.; Becker Tjus, J.; Berge, D.; Bernhard, S.; Bernlã¶hr, K.; Blackwell, R.; Bã¶ttcher, M.; Boisson, C.; Bolmont, J.; Bordas, P.; Bregeon, J.; Brun, F.; Brun, P.; Bryan, M.; Bulik, T.; Capasso, M.; Casanova, S.; Cerruti, M.; Chakraborty, N.; Chalme-Calvet, R.; Chaves, R. C. G.; Chen, A.; Chevalier, J.; Chrã©tien, M.; Colafrancesco, S.; Cologna, G.; Condon, B.; Conrad, J.; Cui, Y.; Davids, I. D.; Decock, J.; Degrange, B.; Deil, C.; Devin, J.; Dewilt, P.; Dirson, L.; Djannati-AtaÃ¯, A.; Domainko, W.; Donath, A.; Drury, L. O'C; Dubus, G.; Dutson, K.; Dyks, J.; Edwards, T.; Egberts, K.; Eger, P.; Ernenwein, J. -. P.; Eschbach, S.; Farnier, C.; Fegan, S.; Fernandes, M. V.; Fiasson, A.; Fontaine, G.; Fã¶rster, A.; Funk, S.; Fã¼bling, M.; Gabici, S.; Gajdus, M.; Gallant, Y. A.; Garrigoux, T.; Giavitto, G.; Giebels, B.; Glicenstein, J. F.; Gottschall, D.; Goyal, A.; Grondin, M. -. H.; Hadasch, D.; Hahn, J.; Haupt, M.; Hawkes, J.; Heinzelmann, G.; Henri, G.; Hermann, G.; Hervet, O.; Hinton, J. A.; Hofmann, W.; Hoischen, C.; Holler, M.; Horns, D.; Ivascenko, A.; Jacholkowska, A.; Jamrozy, M.; Janiak, M.; Jankowsky, D.; Jankowsky, F.; Jingo, M.; Jogler, T.; Jouvin, L.; Jung-Richardt, I.; Kastendieck, M. A.; Katarzã½nski, K.; Kerszberg, D.; Khã©lifi, B.; Kieffer, M.; King, J.; Klepser, S.; Klochkov, D.; Klãºzniak, W.; Kolitzus, D.; Komin, N.; Kosack, K.; Krakau, S.; Kraus, M.; Krayzel, F.; Krã¼ger, P. P.; Laffon, H.; Lamanna, G.; Lau, J.; Lees, J. -. P.; Lefaucheur, J.; Lefranc, V.; Lemiãre, A.; Lemoine-Goumard, M.; Lenain, J. -. P.; Leser, E.; Lohse, T.; Lorentz, M.; Liu, R.; Ä¹opez-Coto, R.; Lypova, I.; Marandon, V.; Marcowith, A.; Mariaud, C.; Marx, R.; Maurin, G.; Maxted, N.; Mayer, M.; Meintjes, P. J.; Meyer, M.; Mitchell, A. M. W.; Moderski, R.; Mohamed, M.; Mohrmann, L.; Mora, K.; Moulin, E.; Murach, T.; de Naurois, M.; Niederwanger, F.; Niemiec, J.; Oakes, L.; O'Brien, P.; Odaka, H.; Ã–ttl, S.; Ohm, S.; Ostrowski, M.; Oya, I.; Padovani, M.; Panter, M.; Parsons, R. D.; Pekeur, N. W.; Pelletier, G.; Perennes, C.; Petrucci, P. -. O.; Peyaud, B.; Piel, Q.; Pita, S.; Poon, H.; Prokhorov, D.; Prokoph, H.; Pã¼hlhofer, G.; Punch, M.; Quirrenbach, A.; Raab, S.; Reimer, A.; Reimer, O.; Renaud, M.; de los Reyes, R.; Rieger, F.; Romoli, C.; Rosier-Lees, S.; Rowell, G.; Rudak, B.; Rulten, C. B.; Sahakian, V.; Salek, D.; Sanchez, D. A.; Santangelo, A.; Sasaki, M.; Schlickeiser, R.; Schulz, A.; Schã¼ssler, F.; Schwanke, U.; Schwemmer, S.; Settimo, M.; Seyffert, A. S.; Shafi, N.; Shilon, I.; Simoni, R.; Sol, H.; Spanier, F.; Spengler, G.; Spies, F.; Stawarz, L.; Steenkamp, R.; Stegmann, C.; Stinzing, F.; Stycz, K.; Sushch, I.; Tavernet, J. -. P.; Tavernier, T.; Taylor, A. M.; Terrier, R.; Tibaldo, L.; Tiziani, D.; Tluczykont, M.; Trichard, C.; Tuffs, R.; Uchiyama, Y.; van der Walt, D. J.; van Eldik, C.; van Rensburg, C.; van Soelen, B.; Vasileiadis, G.; Veh, J.; Venter, C.; Viana, A.; Vincent, P.; Vink, J.; Voisin, F.; Vã¶lk, H. J.; Vuillaume, T.; Wadiasingh, Z.; Wagner, S. J.; Wagner, P.; Wagner, R. M.; White, R.; Wierzcholska, A.; Willmann, P.; Wã¶rnlein, A.; Wouters, D.; Yang, R.; Zabalza, V.; Zaborov, D.; Zacharias, M.; Zanin, R.; Zdziarski, A. A.; Zech, A.; Zefi, F.; Ziegler, A.; Zywucka, N.

doi:10.1093/mnras/stx1098

We report on the discovery of a new fast radio burst (FRB), FRB 150215, with the Parkes radio telescope on 2015 February 15. The burst was detected in real time with a dispersion measure (DM) of 1105.6 Â± 0.8 pc cm-3, a pulse duration of 2.8+1.2-0.5ms, and a measured peak flux density assuming that the burst was at beam centre of 0.7+0.2-0.1Jy. The FRB originated at a Galactic longitude and latitude of 24.66Â°, 5.28Â° and 25Â° away from the Galactic Center. The burst was found to be 43 Â± 5 per cent linearly polarized with a rotation measure (RM) in the range -9 < RM < 12 radm-2(95 per cent confidence level), consistent with zero. The burst was followed up with 11 telescopes to search for radio, optical, X-ray, Î³ -ray and neutrino emission. Neither transient nor variable emission was found to be associated with the burst and no repeat pulses have been observed in 17.25 h of observing. The sightline to the burst is close to the Galactic plane and the observed physical properties of FRB 150215 demonstrate the existence of sight lines of anomalously low RM for a given electron column density. The Galactic RM foreground may approach a null value due to magnetic field reversals along the line of sight, a decreased total electron column density from the Milky Way, or some combination of these effects. A lower Galactic DM contribution might explain why this burst was detectable whereas previous searches at low latitude have had lower detection rates than those out of the plane.

A polarized fast radio burst at low Galactic latitude

Petroff, E.;Burke-Spolaor, S.;Keane, E. F.;McLaughlin, M. A.;Miller, R.;Andreoni, I.;Bailes, M.;Barr, E. D.;Bernard, S. R.;Bhandari, S.;Bhat, N. D. R.;Burgay, M.;Caleb, M.;Champion, D.;Chandra, P.;Cooke, J.;Dhillon, V. S.;Farnes, J. S.;Hardy, L. K.;Jaroenjittichai, P.;Johnston, S.;Kasliwal, M.;Kramer, M.;Littlefair, S. P.;Macquart, J. P.;Mickaliger, M.;Possenti, A.;Pritchard, T.;Ravi, V.;Rest, A.;Rowlinson, A.;Sawangwit, U.;Stappers, B.;Sullivan, M.;Tiburzi, C.;van Straten, W.;Albert, A.;AndrÃ©, M.;Anghinolfi, M.;Anton, G.;Ardid, M.;Aubert, J. -.J.;Avgitas, T.;Baret, B.;Barrios-MartÃ, J.;Basa, S.;Bertin, V.;Biagi, S.;Bormuth, R.;Bourret, S.;Bouwhuis, M. C.;Bruijn, R.;Brunner, J.;Busto, J.;Capone, A.;Caramete, L.;Carr, J.;Celli, S.;Chiarusi, T.;Circella, M.;Coelho, J. A. B.;Coleiro, A.;Coniglione, R.;Costantini, H.;Coyle, P.;Creusot, A.;Deschamps, A.;De Bonis, G.;Distefano, C.;Di Palma, I.;Donzaud, C.;Dornic, D.;Drouhin, D.;Eberl, T.;El Bojaddaini, I.;Elsasser, D.;EnzenhÃ¶fer, A.;Felis, I.;Fusco, L. A.;GalatÃ , S.;Gay, P.;GeiÃŸelsÃ¶der, S.;Geyer, K.;Giordano, V.;Gleixner, A.;Glotin, H.;GrÃ©goire, T.;Gracia-Ruiz, R.;Graf, K.;Hallmann, S.;van Haren, H.;Heijboer, A. J.;Hello, Y.;HernÃ¡ndez-Rey, J. J.;HÃ¶bl, J.;HofestÃ¤dt, J.;Hugon, C.;Illuminati, G.;James, C. W.;de Jong, M.;Jongen, M.;Kadler, M.;Kalekin, O.;Katz, U.;Kiebling, D.;Kouchner, A.;Kreter, M.;Kreykenbohm, I.;Kulikovskiy, V.;Lachaud, C.;Lahmann, R.;LefÃvre, D.;Leonora, E.;Lotze, M.;Loucatos, S.;Marcelin, M.;Margiotta, A.;Marinelli, A.;MartÃnez-Mora, J. A.;Mathieu, A.;Mele, R.;Melis, K.;Michael, T.;Migliozzi, P.;Moussa, A.;Mueller, C.;Nezri, E.;PÄƒvÄƒlaÅŸ, G. E.;Pellegrino, C.;Perrina, C.;Piattelli, P.;Popa, V.;Pradier, T.;Quinn, L.;Racca, C.;Riccobene, G.;Roensch, K.;Åšanchez-Losa, A.;SaldaÃ±a, M.;Salvadori, I.;Samtleben, D. F. E.;Sanguineti, M.;Sapienza, P.;Schnabel, J.;Seitz, T.;Sieger, C.;Spurio, M.;Stolarczyk, T.;Taiuti, M.;Tayalati, Y.;Trovato, A.;Tselengidou, M.;Turpin, D.;TÃ¶nnis, C.;Vallage, B.;VallÃ©e, C.;Van Elewyck, V.;Vivolo, D.;Vizzoca, A.;Wagner, S.;Wilms, J.;Zornoza, J. D.;Å¹uÃ±iga, J.;Abdalla, H.;Abramowski, A.;Aharonian, F.;Ait Benkhali, F.;Akhperjanian, A. G.;Andersson, T.;AngÃ¼ner, E. O.;Arrieta, M.;Aubert, P.;Backes, M.;Balzer, A.;Barnard, M.;Becherini, Y.;Becker Tjus, J.;Berge, D.;Bernhard, S.;BernlÃ¶hr, K.;Blackwell, R.;BÃ¶ttcher, M.;Boisson, C.;Bolmont, J.;Bordas, P.;Bregeon, J.;Brun, F.;Brun, P.;Bryan, M.;Bulik, T.;Capasso, M.;Casanova, S.;Cerruti, M.;Chakraborty, N.;Chalme-Calvet, R.;Chaves, R. C. G.;Chen, A.;Chevalier, J.;ChrÃ©tien, M.;Colafrancesco, S.;Cologna, G.;Condon, B.;Conrad, J.;Cui, Y.;Davids, I. D.;Decock, J.;Degrange, B.;Deil, C.;Devin, J.;deWilt, P.;Dirson, L.;Djannati-AtaÃ¯, A.;Domainko, W.;Donath, A.;Drury, L. O'C;Dubus, G.;Dutson, K.;Dyks, J.;Edwards, T.;Egberts, K.;Eger, P.;Ernenwein, J. -.P.;Eschbach, S.;Farnier, C.;Fegan, S.;Fernandes, M. V.;Fiasson, A.;Fontaine, G.;FÃ¶rster, A.;Funk, S.;FÃ¼bling, M.;Gabici, S.;Gajdus, M.;Gallant, Y. A.;Garrigoux, T.;Giavitto, G.;Giebels, B.;Glicenstein, J. F.;Gottschall, D.;Goyal, A.;Grondin, M. -.H.;Hadasch, D.;Hahn, J.;Haupt, M.;Hawkes, J.;Heinzelmann, G.;Henri, G.;Hermann, G.;Hervet, O.;Hinton, J. A.;Hofmann, W.;Hoischen, C.;Holler, M.;Horns, D.;Ivascenko, A.;Jacholkowska, A.;Jamrozy, M.;Janiak, M.;Jankowsky, D.;Jankowsky, F.;Jingo, M.;Jogler, T.;Jouvin, L.;Jung-Richardt, I.;Kastendieck, M. A.;KatarzÃ½nski, K.;Kerszberg, D.;KhÃ©lifi, B.;Kieffer, M.;King, J.;Klepser, S.;Klochkov, D.;KlÃºzniak, W.;Kolitzus, D.;Komin, N.;Kosack, K.;Krakau, S.;Kraus, M.;Krayzel, F.;KrÃ¼ger, P. P.;Laffon, H.;Lamanna, G.;Lau, J.;Lees, J. -.P.;Lefaucheur, J.;Lefranc, V.;LemiÃre, A.;Lemoine-Goumard, M.;Lenain, J. -.P.;Leser, E.;Lohse, T.;Lorentz, M.;Liu, R.;Ä¹opez-Coto, R.;Lypova, I.;Marandon, V.;Marcowith, A.;Mariaud, C.;Marx, R.;Maurin, G.;Maxted, N.;Mayer, M.;Meintjes, P. J.;Meyer, M.;Mitchell, A. M. W.;Moderski, R.;Mohamed, M.;Mohrmann, L.;Mora, K.;Moulin, E.;Murach, T.;de Naurois, M.;Niederwanger, F.;Niemiec, J.;Oakes, L.;O'Brien, P.;Odaka, H.;Ã–ttl, S.;Ohm, S.;Ostrowski, M.;Oya, I.;Padovani, M.;Panter, M.;Parsons, R. D.;Pekeur, N. W.;Pelletier, G.;Perennes, C.;Petrucci, P. -.O.;Peyaud, B.;Piel, Q.;Pita, S.;Poon, H.;Prokhorov, D.;Prokoph, H.;PÃ¼hlhofer, G.;Punch, M.;Quirrenbach, A.;Raab, S.;Reimer, A.;Reimer, O.;Renaud, M.;de los Reyes, R.;Rieger, F.;Romoli, C.;Rosier-Lees, S.;Rowell, G.;Rudak, B.;Rulten, C. B.;Sahakian, V.;Salek, D.;Sanchez, D. A.;Santangelo, A.;Sasaki, M.;Schlickeiser, R.;Schulz, A.;SchÃ¼ssler, F.;Schwanke, U.;Schwemmer, S.;Settimo, M.;Seyffert, A. S.;Shafi, N.;Shilon, I.;Simoni, R.;Sol, H.;Spanier, F.;Spengler, G.;Spies, F.;Stawarz, L.;Steenkamp, R.;Stegmann, C.;Stinzing, F.;Stycz, K.;Sushch, I.;Tavernet, J. -.P.;Tavernier, T.;Taylor, A. M.;Terrier, R.;Tibaldo, L.;Tiziani, D.;Tluczykont, M.;Trichard, C.;Tuffs, R.;Uchiyama, Y.;van der Walt, D. J.;van Eldik, C.;van Rensburg, C.;van Soelen, B.;Vasileiadis, G.;Veh, J.;Venter, C.;Viana, A.;Vincent, P.;Vink, J.;Voisin, F.;VÃ¶lk, H. J.;Vuillaume, T.;Wadiasingh, Z.;Wagner, S. J.;Wagner, P.;Wagner, R. M.;White, R.;Wierzcholska, A.;Willmann, P.;WÃ¶rnlein, A.;Wouters, D.;Yang, R.;Zabalza, V.;Zaborov, D.;Zacharias, M.;Zanin, R.;Zdziarski, A. A.;Zech, A.;Zefi, F.;Ziegler, A.;Zywucka, N.

2017-01-01

Abstract

We report on the discovery of a new fast radio burst (FRB), FRB 150215, with the Parkes radio telescope on 2015 February 15. The burst was detected in real time with a dispersion measure (DM) of 1105.6 Â± 0.8 pc cm-3, a pulse duration of 2.8+1.2-0.5ms, and a measured peak flux density assuming that the burst was at beam centre of 0.7+0.2-0.1Jy. The FRB originated at a Galactic longitude and latitude of 24.66Â°, 5.28Â° and 25Â° away from the Galactic Center. The burst was found to be 43 Â± 5 per cent linearly polarized with a rotation measure (RM) in the range -9 < RM < 12 radm-2(95 per cent confidence level), consistent with zero. The burst was followed up with 11 telescopes to search for radio, optical, X-ray, Î³ -ray and neutrino emission. Neither transient nor variable emission was found to be associated with the burst and no repeat pulses have been observed in 17.25 h of observing. The sightline to the burst is close to the Galactic plane and the observed physical properties of FRB 150215 demonstrate the existence of sight lines of anomalously low RM for a given electron column density. The Galactic RM foreground may approach a null value due to magnetic field reversals along the line of sight, a decreased total electron column density from the Milky Way, or some combination of these effects. A lower Galactic DM contribution might explain why this burst was detectable whereas previous searches at low latitude have had lower detection rates than those out of the plane.