Low-frequency signals found in FRB radio burst and possibly a second star

In 2007, the first fast radio burst (FRB) was discovered. But what exactly caused it is still unclear. From 2020

scientists suspect it is associated with magnetic neutron stars called magnetars.

One of the most famous fast radio burstsis FRB20180916B. It was discovered in 2018 and is only 500 million light years away in another galaxy. FRB is the closest so far and has a burst pattern that repeats every 16 days: four days of activity and 12 days of calm. This predictability makes it an ideal subject for study.

An international team of researchers led byZiggy Plenis, a graduate of the University of Amsterdam, studied FRBs using the European network of radio telescopes LOFAR. They tuned the telescope's antennas to 110-188 MHz. These are almost the lowest frequencies it can get. The authors recorded 18 signals.

It was unexpected because the fastradio bursts are usually transmitted at high frequencies. The researchers suspect that signals of even lower frequencies can be detected: they will be looking for them in the near future.

In addition, low-level radio emission wasquite pure and arrived later than bursts with higher radio emission. Therefore, the authors suggested that the FRB is part of a binary star. 

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