SGR-like behaviour of the repeating FRB 121102

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the statistical properties of repeating FRB 121102, revealing power-law distributions in its emission characteristics and suggesting an underlying avalanche process similar to soft gamma repeaters.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed statistical analysis of the frequency distributions of repeating FRB 121102 and links these to avalanche models of nonlinear dissipative systems.

Findings

Power-law distributions in peak flux, fluence, and duration.

Waiting time distribution consistent with a non-stationary Poisson process.

Results support avalanche models for FRB mechanisms.

Abstract

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration radio signals occurring at cosmological distances. However the physical model of FRBs is mystery, many models have been proposed. Here we study the frequency distributions of peak flux, fluence, duration and waiting time for the repeating FRB 121102. The cumulative distributions of peak flux, fluence and duration show power-law forms. The waiting time distribution also shows power-law distribution, and is consistent with a non-stationary Poisson process. These distributions are similar as those of soft gamma repeaters (SGRs). We also use the statistical results to test the proposed models for FRBs. These distributions are consistent with the predictions from avalanche models of slowly driven nonlinear dissipative systems.