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A fast radio burst with frequency-dependent polarization detected during Breakthrough Listen observations

Price, D. C. et al., 2019, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 486, 3636 | View on ADS (2019MNRAS.486.3636P)

Abstract

Here, we report on the detection and verification of fast radio burst FRB 180301, which occurred on UTC 2018 March 1 during the Breakthrough Listen observations with the Parkes telescope. Full-polarization voltage data of the detection were captured - a first for non-repeating FRBs - allowing for coherent de-dispersion and additional verification tests. The coherently de-dispersed dynamic spectrum of FRB 180301 shows complex, polarized frequency structure over a small fractional bandwidth. As FRB 180301 was detected close to the geosynchronous satellite band during a time of known 1-2 GHz satellite transmissions, we consider whether the burst was due to radio interference emitted or reflected from an orbiting object. Based on the pre-ponderance of our verification tests, we cannot conclusively determine FRB 180301 to be either astrophysical or anthropogenic in origin.

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