A "Cosmic Comb" Model of Fast Radio Bursts

Understand

Recent observations of fast radio bursts (FRBs) indicate a perplexing, inconsistent picture.

• We propose a unified scenario to interpret diverse FRBs observed.
• A regular pulsar, otherwise unnoticeable at a cosmological distance, may produce a bright FRB if its magnetosphere is suddenly "combed" by a nearby, strong plasma stream towards the anti-stream direction.
• If the Earth is to the night side of the stream, the combed magnetic sheath would sweep across the direction of Earth and make a detectable FRB.