Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond pulses discovered at radio wavelengths.The number of FRB detections has increased rapidly in the last year, culminatingin the detection of bursts from a Galactic magnetar and the extragalactic sourceFRB180916, but the mechanism powering FRBs is still unknown. As the Galacticmagnetar was detected at radio and hard X-ray wavelengths and theoretical modelsthat associate these bursts with relatively long-lived (seconds to minutes)non-thermal radiation, X-ray follow up is the most promising avenue to explorethe spectral energy distribution of FRB emission. We propose a 20 ksNuSTAR/XMM-Newton observation coordinated with CHIME of the periodic FRB180916during one of its a??activea?? phases when one or more high fluence radio bursts are expected.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2021-09-14T22:18:45Z/2021-09-15T01:37:05Z
Version
19.16_20210326_1200
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Dr Charles Kilpatrick, 2022, 'A SEARCH FOR THE FIRST X-RAY COUNTERPART TO AN EXTRAGALACTIC FRB', 19.16_20210326_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-v8ojrro
