Most FRBs occur well beyond our galaxy, making it difficult to observe any details about their cause. In 2020, a fast radio burst was observed in our galaxy, originating in the region of a highly magnetized neutron star known as a magnetar. This discovery led to the idea that magnetars could be the source of FRBs, possibly through magnetic flares similar to solar flares. However, the exact mechanism by which a magnetar could release such a tremendous amount of energy so quickly, even with their intense magnetic fields, remained unclear.
Magnetars and their rotation: A new study suggests that the magnetar’s rotation plays a key role in the production of FRBs. By observing the rate of decay in a pulsar’s rotation, astronomers can better understand the structure of neutron stars and magnetars. Sometimes, the rate of rotation will shift suddenly, either speeding up (a glitch) or slowing down (an anti-glitch). These shifts are thought to occur due to sudden structural changes in the neutron star, such as a starquake.