A Bright Millisecond Radio Burst of Extragalactic Origin
Top Cited Papers
- 2 November 2007
- journal article
- other
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 318 (5851), 777-780
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1147532
Abstract
Pulsar surveys offer a rare opportunity to monitor the radio sky for impulsive burst-like events with millisecond durations. We analyzed archival survey data and found a 30-jansky dispersed burst, less than 5 milliseconds in duration, located 3° from the Small Magellanic Cloud. The burst properties argue against a physical association with our Galaxy or the Small Magellanic Cloud. Current models for the free electron content in the universe imply that the burst is less than 1 gigaparsec distant. No further bursts were seen in 90 hours of additional observations, which implies that it was a singular event such as a supernova or coalescence of relativistic objects. Hundreds of similar events could occur every day and, if detected, could serve as cosmological probes.Keywords
This publication has 29 references indexed in Scilit:
- Big Bang Nucleosynthesis in Scalar Tensor Gravity: The Key Problem of the Primordial7Li AbundanceThe Astrophysical Journal, 2007
- On the Detectability of Prompt Coherent Gamma-Ray Burst Radio EmissionThe Astrophysical Journal, 2007
- On the Rates of Gamma-Ray Bursts and Type Ib/c SupernovaeThe Astrophysical Journal, 2007
- The Parkes High-Latitude pulsar surveyMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2006
- The dynamic radio skyNew Astronomy Reviews, 2004
- The exploration of the unknownNew Astronomy Reviews, 2004
- Warm Gas and Ionizing Photons in the Local GroupThe Astrophysical Journal, 1999
- On the evolution of the cosmic supernova ratesMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 1998
- The irregularity spectrum in interstellar spaceThe Astrophysical Journal, 1976
- Possibility of Determining Intergalactic Gas Density by Radio Observations of Flares of Remote SourcesNature, 1973