Dynamical Formation Channels for Fast Radio Bursts in Globular Clusters

Abstract

The repeating fast radio burst (FRB) localized to a globular cluster in M81 challenges our understanding of FRB models. In this Letter, we explore dynamical formation scenarios for objects in old globular clusters that may plausibly power FRBs. Using N-body simulations, we demonstrate that young neutron stars may form in globular clusters at a rate of up to $\sim 50{\mathrm{Gpc}}^{-3}{\mathrm{yr}}^{-1}$ through a combination of binary white dwarf mergers, white dwarf--neutron star mergers, binary neutron star mergers, and accretion induced collapse of massive white dwarfs in binary systems. We consider two FRB emission mechanisms: First, we show that a magnetically-powered source (e.g., a magnetar with field strength $\gtrsim 10^{14}$G) is viable for radio emission efficiencies $\gtrsim 10^{-4}$. This would require magnetic activity lifetimes longer than the associated spin-down timescales and longer than empirically-constrained lifetimes of Galactic magnetars. Alternatively, if these dynamical formation channels produce young rotation-powered neutron stars with spin periods of $\sim 10$ms and magnetic fields of $\sim 10^{11}$G (corresponding to spin-down lifetimes of $\gtrsim 10^5$yr), the inferred event rate and energetics can be reasonably reproduced for order unity duty cycles. Additionally, we show that recycled millisecond pulsars or low-mass X-ray binaries similar to those well-observed in Galactic globular clusters may also be plausible channels, but only if their duty cycle for producing bursts similar to the M81 FRB is small.

11 pages, 2 tables, 1 figure. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters. Comments welcome

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• Discovery of a millisecond pulsar associated with Terzan 6
• Gravitational waves associated with the r-mode instability from neutron star-white dwarf mergers
• Optical Transients from Fast Radio Bursts Heating Companion Stars in Close Binary Systems
• INTEGRAL limits on past high-energy activity from FRB 20200120E in M81