Localising fast radio bursts and other transients using interferometric arrays

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new non-imaging, beamforming method for interferometric arrays that enables near real-time localization of fast radio bursts with arcsecond accuracy, improving identification of host galaxies.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel non-imaging technique utilizing spectral and spatial data from overlapping tied-array beams to localize transient radio sources accurately in real time.

Findings

Method achieves arcsecond localization accuracy for FRBs.

Applicable to arrays like LOFAR and MeerKAT.

Reduces search area for host galaxy identification.

Abstract

A new population of sources emitting fast and bright transient radio bursts has recently been identified. The observed large dispersion measure values of FRBs suggests an extragalactic origin and an accurate determination of their positions and distances will provide an unique opportunity to study the magneto-ionic properties of the IGM. So far, FRBs have all been found using large dishes equipped with multi-pixel arrays. While large single dishes are well-suited for the discovery of transient sources they are poor at providing accurate localisations. A 2D snapshot image of the sky, made with a correlation interferometer array, can provide an accurate localisation of many compact radio sources simultaneously. However, the required time resolution to detect FRBs and a desire to detect them in real time, makes this currently impractical. In a beamforming approach, where many narrow tied-array beams are produced, the advantages of single dishes and interferometers can be combined. We present a proof-of-concept analysis of a new non-imaging method that utilises the additional spectral and comparative spatial information obtained from multiple overlapping TABs to estimate a transient source location with up to arcsecond accuracy in almost real time. We show that this method can work for a variety of interferometric configurations, including for LOFAR and MeerKAT, and that the estimated angular position may be sufficient to identify a host galaxy without reference to other simultaneous or follow-up observations. With this method, many transient sources can be localised to small fractions of a HPBW of a TAB, in the case of MeerKAT, sufficient to localise a source to arcsecond accuracy. In cases where the position is less accurately determined we can still significantly reduce the area that need be searched for associated emission at other wavelengths and potential host galaxies.