FRB 20250316A: A Brilliant and Nearby One-off Fast Radio Burst Localized to 13 pc Precision

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Abstract
Precise localizations of a small number of repeating fast radio bursts (FRBs) using very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) have enabled multiwavelength follow-up observations revealing diverse local environments. However, the 2%–3% of FRB sources that are observed to repeat may not be representative of the full population. Here we use the VLBI capabilities of the full CHIME Outrigger array for the first time to localize a nearby (40 Mpc), bright (kJy), and apparently one-off FRB source, FRB 20250316A, to its environment on 13 pc scales. We use optical and radio observations to place deep constraints on associated transient emission and the properties of its local environment. We place a 5 σ upper limit of L 9.9 GHz < 2.1 × 10 25 erg s −1 Hz −1 on spatially coincident radio emission, a factor of 100 lower than any known compact persistent radio source associated with an FRB. Our Keck Cosmic Webb Imager observations allow us to characterize the gas density, metallicity, nature of gas ionization, dust extinction, and star formation rate through emission line fluxes. We leverage the exceptional brightness and proximity of this source to place deep constraints on the repetition of FRB 20250316A and find that it is inconsistent with all well-studied repeaters given the nondetection of bursts at lower spectral energies. We explore the implications of a measured offset of 190 ± 20 pc from the center of the nearest star formation region in the context of progenitor channels. FRB 20250316A marks the beginning of an era of routine localizations for one-off FRBs on tens of milliarcseconds scales, enabling large-scale studies of their local environments.
Funding Information
  • Canadian Government ∣ Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN-2020-04554)
  • NSF ∣ MPS ∣ Division of Astronomical Sciences (2206494)
  • NSF ∣ National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (DGE-2234667)
  • NSF ∣ MPS ∣ Division of Astronomical Sciences (2308182)
  • NSF ∣ MPS ∣ Division of Astronomical Sciences (2047919)
  • Research Corporation for Science Advancement (28284)
  • NSF ∣ MPS ∣ Division of Astronomical Sciences (2407399)
  • Canada Excellence Research Chairs, Government of Canada (2022-00009)
  • EC ∣ H2020 ∣ PRIORITY 'Excellent science' (101098079)
  • Canadian Government ∣ Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN 228738-13)
  • NSF ∣ MPS ∣ Division of Astronomical Sciences (2018490)
  • Canadian Government ∣ Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN-2023-05373)
  • Canadian Government ∣ Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN-2019-06770)
  • Canadian Government ∣ Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (ALLRP 586559-23)
  • NSF ∣ MPS ∣ Division of Physics (2020265)
  • Canadian Government ∣ Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN-2024-06266)
  • NSF ∣ MPS ∣ Division of Astronomical Sciences (2432037)
  • Canadian Government ∣ Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN-2021-03985)
  • NSF ∣ MPS ∣ Division of Astronomical Sciences (1911140)
  • NSF ∣ MPS ∣ Division of Astronomical Sciences (1910471)
  • NSF ∣ MPS ∣ Division of Astronomical Sciences (206490)
  • NSF ∣ MPS ∣ Division of Astronomical Sciences (2006548)
  • NSF ∣ MPS ∣ Division of Astronomical Sciences (2018490)

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