Multi-messenger astrophysics

• Magnetars, Supernovae, and FRBs: A Delayed Connection?

  In this episode, we dive into the mysterious world of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) and the ongoing quest to understand their origins. We discuss a systematic search for **past supernovae (SNe) and other historical optical transients** at the positions of FRB sources, exploring a leading theory that links FRBs to **magnetars**.The study **found no statistically significant associations** within the 5σ FRB localization uncertainties between the observed CHIME-KKO or literature FRBs and optical transients, *except* for a previously identified potential optical counterpart to FRB 20180916B, named AT 2020hur. AT 2020hur, however, occurred *after* the FRB was first detected, making it inconsistent with the "past SN" progenitor model, though it remains a potential association under other theories.**Chance Coincidences:** The probability of a chance coincidence (Pcc) between an FRB and a transient was found to be **low (Pcc < 0.1)**. It's estimated that it would take **~22,700 subarcsecond-localized FRBs** to yield one chance association, which translates to roughly **30–60 years** at the projected CHIME/FRB Outrigger detection rate. This means that any robust match found in the near future is highly likely to be a **physical association**.**Implications of Transparency Time:** The research estimates that **5–7% of matched optical transients** (if all were SNe) are old enough to be associated with a detectable FRB, assuming the 6.4-10 year transparency timescale. More broadly, **23–30% of all cataloged SNe and 32–41% of CCSNe** are currently old enough to have detectable FRB emission.**The Future with Rubin Observatory:** The upcoming **Vera C. Rubin Observatory (LSST)** is expected to dramatically increase the number of known SNe and the volume over which they can be detected. This will significantly **increase the rate of potential FRB-SN associations** at redshifts below z~1, where most FRBs are discovered.**Flexible Framework:** The systematic search machinery developed for this work is publicly available and flexible, allowing it to be applied to a wide range of transient timescales, FRB localization sizes, and different optical transient populations in future searches.**Reference Article:*** DONG, Y., KILPATRICK, C. D., FONG, W., et al. (2025). **Searching for Historical Extragalactic Optical Transients Associated with Fast Radio Bursts**. arXiv e-prints, arXiv:2506.06420v1.Acknowledements: Podcast prepared with Google/NotebookLM. Illustration credits: NASA - JPL/Caltech

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  29:55
• Beyond Fermi: LST-1 Detects Geminga Pulsar Down to 20 GeV

  In this episode, we discuss a significant new detection of the Geminga pulsar, a middle-aged, radio-quiet gamma-ray pulsar. The **Large-Sized Telescope (LST-1)**, the first of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) Northern Array, has detected Geminga at energies down to 20 GeV.Key takeaways from the study:* The LST-1 detected the Geminga pulsar using 60 hours of data.* The **second emission peak (P2)** of Geminga was detected with a high significance of **12.2σ** in the energy range between 20 and 65 GeV. This is a doubled significance compared to previous results by the MAGIC Collaboration, achieved with less observation time and a single telescope.* The first peak (P1) was detected at a lower significance level of 2.6σ.* The LST-1 analysis has an estimated energy threshold as low as 10 GeV for pulsar analysis, although the peak in reconstructed energy was around 20 GeV.* The best-fit model for the P2 spectrum was a power law with a spectral index of Γ = 4.5 ± 0.4 (statistical uncertainty). When considering systematic uncertainties, the spectral index is Γ = (4.5 ± 0.4stat)+0.2sys −0.6sys. This is compatible with previous results from the MAGIC Collaboration.* A joint fit of LST-1 and Fermi-LAT data preferred a power law with a sub-exponential cut-off (PLSEC) over a pure exponential cut-off (PLEC), although the PLSEC model didn't fully match the LST-1 points.* While no curvature was detected in the LST-1-only spectrum, combining LST-1 and Fermi-LAT data showed a statistical preference for a curved log parabola model at lower minimum energies (10-20 GeV).* Theoretical models, such as the synchro-curvature (SC) model from Harding et al. (2021), can explain the dominance of the SC component at high energies and the non-detection of the first peak above 20 GeV, although improvements are needed to match the LST-1 SED better.* These results demonstrate the LST-1's excellent capabilities for observing pulsars at the upper end of their spectra and its overlap with the Fermi-LAT energy range. Future observations with the full CTAO Northern Array are expected to improve sensitivity and allow for more detailed studies of the pulsar peaks and spectra.**Reference:*** K. Abe et al. (CTAO LST Project). Detection of the Geminga pulsar at energies down to 20 GeV with the LST-1 of CTAO. *Astronomy & Astrophysics* manuscript no. aa54350-25 ©ESO 2025 May 29, 2025.Acknowledements: Podcast prepared with Google/NotebookLM. Illustration credits: Iván Jiménez (IAC)

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  21:02
• The 44-Minute Pulsar ASKAP J1832−0911 seen in radio and x-rays

  Astronomers have made a significant discovery, detecting X-ray emission from a rare type of cosmic object known as a **Long-Period Radio Transient (LPT)** for the very first time.The object, designated **ASKAP J1832−0911**, is extraordinarily bright in radio, reaching flux densities of 10–20 Jy.Crucially, it exhibits **coincident radio and X-ray emission**, both pulsing with a regular period of **44.2 minutes** (2,656.2412 seconds in radio, 2,634 seconds in X-rays). This combination of properties – long period, bright coherent radio, and variable X-ray emission – makes ASKAP J1832−0911 **unlike any other known object in our galaxy**. Its luminosity is **highly variable**, with both radio and X-ray emission decreasing dramatically over a few months following a 'hyper-active' phase. This variability suggests that the lack of previous X-ray detections from other LPTs might be due to not observing them during such brief bright phases. The object is estimated to be located at a distance of approximately **4.5 kpc**. Current data suggest potential classifications like an old magnetar or an ultra-magnetized white dwarf, though both interpretations present **theoretical challenges** for existing models. It is not consistent with a classical rotation-powered pulsar or a typical isolated white dwarf.The discovery of X-ray emission from ASKAP J1832−0911 demonstrates that LPTs can be **more energetic** than previously believed. It also establishes a new class of hour-scale periodic X-ray transients linked to exceptionally bright radio emission.Reference Article: "Detection of X-ray emission from a bright long-period radio transient" by Ziteng Wang et al..Acknowledements: Podcast prepared with Google/NotebookLM. Illustration credits: Alex Cherney

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  11:01
• Challenging the Models: New Fermi-LAT Insights into Solar Gamma Rays and Cosmic Rays

  A recent study utilized **15 years of observations** from the **Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT)** to analyze the gamma-ray emission from the Sun in its quiet state, meaning when it's not flaring. This is the first study to separately analyze the flux variation of the two distinct components of this quiet-state gamma-ray emission over solar cycles.According to theoretical understanding, the Sun's steady-state gamma-ray emission arises from interactions with Galactic cosmic rays (CRs). There are two main components:* The hadronic component, which is primarily confined to the **solar disk**. It's thought to be produced by CR cascades in the solar atmosphere. This component's flux is expected to **anticorrelate with solar activity** (like sunspot number, SSN) and **correlate with the flux of cosmic rays**.* The **leptonic component**, which is spatially **extended** beyond the solar disk. This is theorized to be an Inverse Compton (IC) component, where CR electrons scatter off solar photons. Like the disk component, its intensity was expected to **vary with the solar cycle**, being highest during solar minimum and lowest during solar maximum, thus anticorrelating with SSN and correlating with CR flux (specifically CR electron flux).Previous Fermi-LAT observations had shown that the overall solar gamma-ray flux varies with solar activity, anticorrelating with SSN and changing by nearly a factor of two between solar maximum and minimum. However, these studies had not separated the contributions of the disk and extended components.This new work analyzed Fermi-LAT data from August 2008 to June 2023, carefully selecting data and using an "off-source" method to evaluate background contamination. They were able to distinguish the two components and study their flux variations over Solar Cycle 24 and the beginning of Cycle 25.The key findings from this analysis reveal both confirmation of expectations and **significant surprises**:* For the **disk component**, the results align well with theoretical predictions. Its flux variation: * **Anticorrelates strongly with the sunspot number (SSN)**. * **Correlates strongly with the flux of cosmic-ray protons** measured near Earth. * Correlates with the gamma-ray flux from the Moon, supporting similar production mechanisms. * The variation is **independent of energy** above 250 MeV. This confirms that the hadronic emission mechanism for the disk component has been correctly identified.* For the **spatially extended component**, the behavior was **unexpectedly complex**. * It showed the expected anticorrelation with SSN and correlation with the disk component **only until approximately mid-2012**. * **After 2013, there was no longer any significant correlation or anticorrelation observed** between the extended component's flux variation and either the SSN or the cosmic-ray electron flux. Correlation coefficients over the entire period are below 0.3. * Like the disk component, the extended component's variation was also found to be independent of energy above 250 MeV.This **surprising lack of correlation for the extended component after 2013** is a major finding. The change in behavior coincides with the start of the **reversal of the Sun's polar magnetic field**, which began at the end of 2012. This suggests that the transport and modulation of cosmic rays, particularly electrons, in the **inner heliosphere (close to the Sun)** may be **unexpectedly complex** and possibly different for electrons and protons.Paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.06348Acknowledements: Podcast prepared with Google/NotebookLM. Illustration credits: Solar Dynamics Observatory/GSFC/NASA

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  20:07
• PeV Power from Stellar Explosions: The Role of Dense Environments

  The research investigates how supernovae exploding into dense circumstellar environments, specifically those with dense shells of material, can potentially accelerate particles to energies of a few PeV, thus acting as "PeVatrons" and contributing to the "knee" feature in the cosmic ray spectrum.Supernova remnants (SNRs) have long been considered prime candidates for the sources of Galactic Cosmic Rays (CRs) up to energies of a few PeV. However, despite decades of gamma-ray astronomy, there hasn't been clear observational proof that standard SNR models can accelerate particles beyond approximately 100 TeV. Young SNRs like Tycho and Casiopeia A, initially expected to be strong accelerators, show even lower cutoff energies.The presented study explores a different scenario: supernovae that expand into **much denser circumstellar material**, including dense shells ejected by the progenitor star shortly before explosion. These dense shells are thought to be present around massive stars like Luminous Blue Variables (LBVs), which can undergo brief episodes of very high mass-loss rates (up to 1 M⊙/yr). Type IIn supernovae, associated with LBVs, make up about 5% of core-collapse supernovae.The researchers used spherically symmetric 1D simulations with their time-dependent acceleration code called **RATPaC** (Radiation Acceleration Transport Parallel Code). This code simultaneously solves the transport equations for cosmic rays, magnetic turbulence, and the hydrodynamical flow of the thermal plasma in the test-particle limit. Unlike models that assume a steady state for magnetic turbulence, RATPaC accounts for the time needed for turbulence to build up, which often leads to lower maximum energies in standard scenarios.**The key finding is that the interaction of the supernova shock front with these dense circumstellar shells can significantly boost the maximum energy** of the accelerated particles.Specifically, the simulations show that:* **Interactions with shells that occur earlier post-explosion lead to a greater increase in maximum energy (Emax)**.* If the interaction happens within the first **5 months (approximately 140 days)** after the explosion, the **Emax can increase to more than 1 PeV**.* For very early interactions, around **0.1 years**, Emax can even surpass **10 PeV**.This significant energy boost is attributed to several mechanisms during and after the shock-shell interaction:1. **Enhanced Particle Escape:** The shock slows down considerably during the interaction with the dense shell, which temporarily enhances the "precursor scale" (the region upstream where particles diffuse back towards the shock, given by D(E)/v_shock). This increased scale provides more time for turbulence to grow. Enhanced particle escape also occurs during the onset of the interaction, boosting the CR current.2. **Reacceleration in a Pre-amplified Field:** After passing through the shell, the shock propagates into a medium where the magnetic field has been pre-amplified by escaping cosmic rays during the interaction phase. The shock accelerating into this region with an enhanced field boosts Emax.3. **Interaction with Reflected Shocks:** The collision with the dense shell creates reflected shocks. These can catch up with and interact with the forward shock from behind, leading to sharp increases in the forward shock's velocity and slightly boosting Emax.Acknowledements: Podcast prepared with Google/NotebookLM. Illustration credits: ESO/L. Calçada

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  14:49

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