A Neutron Star-White Dwarf Binary Model for Periodically Active Fast Radio Burst Sources

Understand

We propose a compact binary model with an eccentric orbit to explain periodically active fast radio burst (FRB) sources, where the system consists of a neutron star (NS) with strong dipolar magnetic fields and a magnetic white dwarf (WD).

• In our model, the WD fills its Roche lobe at periastron, and mass transfer occurs from the WD to the NS around this point.
• The accreted material may be fragmented into a number of parts, which arrive at the NS at different times.
• The fragmented magnetized material may trigger magnetic reconnection near the NS surface.