Classifying RRATs and FRBs

Abstract

In this paper we consider the fact that the simple criterion used to label fast radio transient events as either fast radio bursts (FRBs, thought to be extragalactic with as yet unknown progenitors) or rotating radio transients (RRATs, thought to be Galactic neutron stars) is uncertain. We identify single pulse events reported in the literature which have never been seen to repeat, and which have been labelled as RRATs, but are potentially mis-labelled FRBs. We examine the probability that such `grey area' events are within the Milky Way. The uncertainty in the RRAT/FRB labelling criterion, as well as Galactic-latitude dependent reporting bias may be contributing to the observed latitude dependence of the FRB rate, in addition to effects such as Eddington bias due to scintillation.

Published in MNRAS, 3 pages, 1 figure, 1 table. v2 has minor edits to match final published version

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• The Future of Fast Radio Burst Science
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• The second set of pulsar discoveries by CHIME/FRB/Pulsar: 14 Rotating Radio Transients and 7 pulsars
• Searching for giga-Jansky fast radio bursts from the Milky Way with a global array of low-cost radio receivers
• A Survey of the Galactic Plane for Dispersed Pulses with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder
• Radio Properties of Rotating Radio Transients: Single Pulse Spectral and Wait Time Analyses
• Constraining Redshifts of Unlocalised Fast Radio Bursts
• Systematic performance of the ASKAP Fast Radio Burst search algorithm
• Investigation of four rotating radio transients properties at 111 MHz
• An Overview of Compact Star Populations and Some of Its Open Problems
• The Location of Young Pulsar PSR J0837$-$2454: Galactic Halo or Local Supernova Remnant?
• Diverse origins for non-repeating fast radio bursts: Rotational radio transient sources and cosmological compact binary merger remnants
• A study of 10 Rotating Radio Transients using Parkes radio telescope