Colloquium on Nov. 5, 2026

Tracing the Origins of Fast Radio Bursts through Their Environments

Speaker: Ye Li (Purple Mountain Observatory)

Venue: SWIFAR Building 2111

Time: 16:00 PM, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026

Abstract:

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are mysterious millisecond-duration radio transients whose origins remain uncertain. In this talk, I will discuss how observations of FRB environments on different spatial and temporal scales can help constrain their origins. I will first review the diverse properties of FRB host galaxies and compare them with those of other stellar transients, exploring the implications for possible progenitor populations. I will then focus on the repeating FRB 20220529, which exhibits dramatic changes in its rotation measure followed by rapid recovery. These unusual variations reveal a highly dynamic magnetized environment and provide intriguing clues to a possible binary origin. Together, these studies illustrate how environments offer complementary perspectives on the origins of FRBs.