What binary systems are the most likely sources for periodically repeating FRBs?

TL;DR

This paper investigates binary star systems, especially those with neutron stars and B-type companions, as likely sources of periodically repeating FRBs, supported by population synthesis modeling and observed period ranges.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed population synthesis study supporting the binary comb model, identifying B-type stars as likely companions and explaining the observed 16-day period of FRB 180916.

Findings

Companion star is most likely a B-type star.

The 16-day period falls within the most probable range for such systems.

The birth rate of NSC-FRB systems is sufficient to explain observed FRB rates.

Abstract

The newly discovered 16.35 days period for repeating FRB 180916.J0158+65 provides an essential clue for understanding the sources and emission mechanism of repeating FRBs. Many models propose that the periodically repeating FRBs might be related to binary star systems that contain at least one neutron star (NSC-FRB system). It has been suggested that the NS "combed" by the strong wind from a companion star might provide a solution. Following the "Binary Comb" model, we use the population synthesis method to study in detail the properties of the companion stars and the nature of NSC-FRB systems. Our main findings are: 1) the companion star is most likely to be a B-type star; 2) the period of 16 days of FRB 180916 happens to fall in the most probable period range, which may explain why FRB 180916 was the first detected periodically repeating FRB, and we expect to observe more periodically repeating FRBs with periods around 10-30 days; 3) the birth rate for NSC-FRB system is large enough to fulfill the event rate requirement set by the observation of FRB 180916, which supports the proposal that NSC-FRB can provide one significant channel for producing periodically repeating FRBs.