Universe Webinar | Long-term Periodicity in FRB Activity
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6th Universe Webinar
Long-term Periodicity in FRB Activity
Fast radio bursts (FRBs) remain a puzzling phenomenon. Among many unsolved problems, there the a question of periodic activity observed for two sources of repeating bursts. This feature can be an important clue to understanding the physics of these enigmatic sources. Three main hypotheses to explain these 16-day and 160-day periods have been put forwards: orbital periodicity in a binary system; precession of a neutron star; and ultra-long spin. In this seminar, we confront these approaches, inviting three speakers who are proponents of the three competing approaches. We expect that the problem will be elucidated from these different points of view, accounting for all available pieces of information about FRBs. Since the speakers will present their views on these unsolved questions, we hope to have an interesting discussion.
Date: 12 April 2022
Time: 3:00pm CEST | 9:00am EDT | 9:00pm CST Asia
Webinar ID: 836 9329 2513
Webinar Secretariat: universe.webinar@mdpi.com
Meet Our Speakers
Cagliari Astronomical Observatory, INAF, Italy;
Graduated from the Astronomy Department of the Bologna University in 2000. Obtained a PhD in Astronomy there in 2003, with a thesis reporting the discovery of the first and only double pulsar system. Currently works as a researcher at the Cagliari Observatory of the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) in Italy.
Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow State University, Russia;
Graduated from the Moscow State University in 1995. Obtained PhD there in 1998.
Currently works at the Sternberg Astronomical Institute.
Postdoc at the University of Padua (Italy) in 2002-2004.
Professor of the department of Physics, Moscow State University since 2017.
The first Chair of the webinar, Dr. Marta Burgay from the Cagliari Astronomical Observatory in Italy, gave a general introduction on the observations of FRBs and their periodicity.
The first presentation was focused on ultra-long spin periods as the origin of the frb periodic activity, and was held by Prof. Dr. Paz Beniamini from the Open University of Israel, Israel. He was followed by Dr. Maxim Barkov from the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who explained in detail FRB sources in binary systems. The last presentation was held by Prof. Dr. Dong Lai from the Cornell University in USA, and dealt with neutron-star precession and its relationship with FRB periodicity.
The original presentations were followed by an intensive and interesting discussion thanks to many questions from the participants, moderated by the second chair Prof. Dr. Sergei Popov, from the Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow State University in Russia. The speakers concluded that there are good and various prospects to solve the main puzzles of FRBs in relatively near future thanks to new observations.
The webinar was offered via Zoom and required registration to attend. In order to stay updated on the next webinars on Universe, be sure to sign up for our newsletter by clicking on "Subscribe" at the top of the page.
Guest Editors: Dr. Marta Burgay and Prof. Dr. Sergei B. Popov
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2021)