Gertsenshtein-Zel$'$dovich effect: A plausible explanation for fast radio bursts?

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new model where high-frequency gravitational waves interacting with magnetospheres of compact objects like neutron stars produce fast radio bursts, offering explanations for their properties and a new way to indirectly detect high-frequency GWs.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel Gertsenshtein-Zel'dovich effect-based model linking gravitational waves and FRBs, suggesting neutron stars as progenitors and providing testable predictions.

Findings

Model predicts peak flux of FRBs based on GW interaction.

Explains the pulse width and coherence of FRBs.

Offers a new method for high-frequency GW detection.

Abstract

We present a novel model that may provide an interpretation for a class of non-repeating FRBs -- short ($<1~\rm{s}$), bright ($0.1 - 1000~\rm{Jy}$) bursts of MHz-GHz frequency radio waves. The model has three ingredients -- compact object, a progenitor with effective magnetic field strength around $10^{10}~{\rm Gauss}$, and high frequency (MHz-GHz) gravitational waves (GWs). At resonance, the energy conversion from GWs to electromagnetic waves occurs when GWs pass through the magnetosphere of such compact objects due to the Gertsenshtein-Zel'dovich effect. This conversion produces bursts of electromagnetic waves in the MHz-GHz range, leading to FRBs. Our model has three key features: (i) predict peak-flux, (ii) can naturally explain the pulse width, and (iii) coherent nature of FRB. We thus conclude that the neutron star/magnetar could be the progenitor of FRBs. Further, our model offers a novel perspective on the indirection detection of GWs at high-frequency beyond detection capabilities. Thus, transient events like FRBs are a rich source for the current era of multi-messenger astronomy.