Flux Variations of Fast Radio Bursts and Their Persistent Radio Sources: Evidence for a Shared Progenitor

TL;DR

This study finds a correlated long-term variation between persistent radio sources and burst activity in some FRBs, supporting the idea of a shared energy source like a magnetar.

Contribution

First observational evidence of correlated flux variations between PRSs and FRB activity, suggesting a common energy reservoir for both phenomena.

Findings

Correlation observed in FRB 20190520B and FRB 20240114A

No clear correlation in other repeaters due to limited data

Results support magnetar-based models for FRBs and PRSs

Abstract

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration extragalactic radio transients, some of which are associated with compact persistent radio sources (PRSs), hinting at a physical connection. While several models have been proposed to explain PRSs and their connection to FRBs, direct observational tests remain limited. Here, we report for the first time a correlated trend between the long-term variation of the PRS flux density and the burst energetics of FRB 20190520B and FRB 20240114A, suggesting that both the PRS and FRB activity may be powered by a shared energy reservoir. We further examine additional repeaters with compact PRSs and find no clear correlation between PRS luminosity and burst activity, likely due to the limited observations. These results are consistent with scenarios in which both the PRS and FRB activity may be powered by a common energy reservoir, such as the magnetic or rotational energy of a magnetar.