Gertsenshtein-Zel$'$dovich effect explains the origin of Fast Radio Bursts

Ashu Kushwaha, Sunil Malik, S. Shankaranarayanan

Published 2022-01-31Version 1

We present a novel model that explains the origin of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) -- short ($<1~\rm{s}$), bright ($0.1 - 1000~\rm{Jy}$) bursts of GHz frequency radio waves. The model has three ingredients -- compact object, progenitor with effective magnetic field strength around $10^{10}~{\rm Gauss}$, and GHz frequency gravitational waves (GWs). 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 GHz range, leading to FRBs. Our model has three key features: (i) can generate peak-flux up to $1000~{\rm Jy}$, (ii) can naturally explain the pulse-width and (iii) predict FRB's random and repeating nature with a wide flux range. We thus conclude that the millisecond pulsars 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.