Journal article
Initial results from a realtime FRB search with the GBT
- Abstract:
- We present the data analysis pipeline, commissioning observations, and initial results from the GREENBURST fast radio burst (FRB) detection system on the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) previously described by Surnis et al., which uses the 21-cm receiver observing commensally with other projects. The pipeline makes use of a state-of-the-art deep learning classifier to winnow down the very large number of false-positive single-pulse candidates that mostly result from radio frequency interference. In our observations, totalling 156.5 d so far, we have detected individual pulses from 20 known radio pulsars that provide an excellent verification of the system performance. We also demonstrate, through blind injection analyses, that our pipeline is complete down to a signal-to-noise threshold of 12. Depending on the observing mode, this translates into peak flux sensitivities in the range 0.14–0.89 Jy. Although no FRBs have been detected to date, we have used our results to update the analysis of Lawrence et al. to constrain the FRB all-sky rate to be 1150+200−180 per day above a peak flux density of 1 Jy. We also constrain the source count index α = 0.84 ± 0.06, which indicates that the source count distribution is substantially flatter than expected from a Euclidean distribution of standard candles (where α = 1.5). We discuss this result in the context of the FRB redshift and luminosity distributions. Finally, we make predictions for detection rates with GREENBURST, as well as other ongoing and planned FRB experiments.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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(Preview, Version of record, 5.8MB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1093/mnras/staa1927
Authors
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- Journal:
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society More from this journal
- Volume:
- 497
- Issue:
- 1
- Pages:
- 352–360
- Publication date:
- 2020-07-08
- Acceptance date:
- 2020-06-29
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1365-2966
- ISSN:
-
0035-8711
- Language:
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English
- Keywords:
- Pubs id:
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1103641
- Local pid:
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pubs:1103641
- Deposit date:
-
2020-07-07
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Agarwal, D et al.
- Copyright date:
- 2020
- Rights statement:
- © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model
- Notes:
- This is the publisher's version of the article. The final version is available online from Oxford University Press at: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa1927
- Licence:
- Other
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