GBT21A-365

A Search for FRBs from the Pulsar Wind Nebula left by the Peculiar SN 2012au

Abstract

In many classes of supernovae (SNe), there is evidence for an extra source of energy powering the emission, potentially a rapidly-spinning magnetar. Moreover, many models propose that Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are produced by magnetars formed in energetic SNe, which may have had spectacular confirmation recently from the joint X-ray/radio observations of SGR 1935+2154. SN2012au is unique among supernovae in that it shows evidence for a central engine that cannot be explained by interactions with circumstellar material. Moreover, late-time radio observations indicate the emergence of compact, asymmetric radio component suggestive of a pulsar wind nebula: we may be seeing the emergence of a pulsar from a SN. To test the magnetar-engine hypothesis for SNe and look for the emergence of FRBs from a young magnetar we propose deep GBT observations of the SN2012au, perhaps the best extra-galactic candidate to directly observe FRB-like emission. This is a high-risk/high-reward proposal: any detection of radio bursts will be a fantastic confirmation of the formation of a young neutron star inside SN2012au and will help unravel the mystery of FRB origins.

Investigators

Name	Institution
Joseph Swiggum	West Virginia University; Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of
David Kaplan *	Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of
Raffaella Margutti	California at Berkeley, University of; Northwestern University; Harvard University; New York University
Danny Milisavljevic	Purdue University; Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
Daniel Patnaude	Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Giacomo Terreran	Northwestern University

* indicates the PI