Periodic Activities of Repeating Fast Radio Bursts from Be/X-ray Binary Systems

Understand

The frequency-dependent periodic active window of the fast radio burst FRB 180916.J0158+65 (FRB 180916B) was observed recently.

• In this Letter, we propose that a Be/X-ray binary (BeXRB) system, which is composed of a neutron star (NS) and a Be star with a circumstellar disk, might be the source of a repeating FRB with periodic activities, and apply this model to explain the activity window of FRB 180916B.
• The interaction between the NS magnetosphere and the accreted material results in evolution of the spin period and the centrifugal force of the NS, leading to the change of the stress in the NS crust.
• When the stress of the crust reaches the critical value, a starquake occurs and further produces FRBs.