Commissioning of ALFABURST: initial tests and results

TL;DR

This paper reports on the initial testing and commissioning results of ALFABURST, a real-time FRB detection instrument using the Arecibo telescope's 7-beam array, aiming to better understand FRBs.

Contribution

It introduces ALFABURST, a new instrument for real-time FRB detection, and presents its initial on-sky test results during commissioning.

Findings

Successful initial on-sky tests conducted

ALFABURST is now available for commensal observations

Demonstrated capability to detect FRBs in real-time

Abstract

Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are apparently one-time, relatively bright radio pulses that have been observed in recent years. The origin of FRBs is currently unknown and many instruments are being built to detect more of these bursts to better characterize their physical properties and identify the source population. ALFABURST is one such instrument. ALFABURST takes advantage of the 7-beam Arecibo L-band Feed Array (ALFA) receiver on the 305-m Arecibo Radio Telescope in Puerto Rico, to detect FRBs in real-time at L-band (1.4 GHz). We present the results of recent on-sky tests and observations undertaken during the commissioning phase of the instrument. ALFABURST is now available for commensal observations with other ALFA projects.