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Probing Diffuse Gas with Fast Radio Bursts
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics · Submitted 6 Sep 2019
abstract compiled · 2026-09-23 · no language-model review
The authors' main claim Instead, we find that the precision of current cosmological constraints allows one to constrain $f_{\rm d}(z)$, and possibly its redshift evolution.
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The abstract, sentence by sentence
The dispersion measure -- redshift relation of Fast Radio Bursts, $\mathrm{DM}(z)$, has been proposed as a potential new probe of the cosmos, complementary to existing techniques. In practice, however, the effectiveness of this approach depends on a number of factors, including (but not limited to) the intrinsic scatter in the data caused by intervening matter inhomogeneities. Here, we simulate a number of catalogues of mock FRB observations, and use MCMC techniques to forecast constraints, and assess which parameters will likely be best constrained. In all cases we find that any potential improvement in cosmological constraints are limited by the current uncertainty on the the diffuse gas fraction, $f_{\rm d}(z)$. Instead, we find that the precision of current cosmological constraints allows one to constrain $f_{\rm d}(z)$, and possibly its redshift evolution. Combining CMB + BAO + SNe + $H_0$ constraints with just 100 FRBs (with redshifts), we find a typical constraint on the mean diffuse gas fraction of a few percent. A detection of this nature would alleviate the "missing baryon problem", and therefore highlights the value of localisation and spectroscopic followup of future FRB detections.
background contribution method result interpretation main claim
| # | sentence | role | the authors' own work | states the main conclusion | strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s0 | The dispersion measure -- redshift relation of Fast Radio Bursts, $\mathrm{DM}(z)$, has been proposed as a potential new probe of the cosmos, complementary to existing techniques. | background 1.00 | 0.06 | 0.03 | hedged possibility 0.89 |
| s1 | In practice, however, the effectiveness of this approach depends on a number of factors, including (but not limited to) the intrinsic scatter in the data caused by intervening matter inhomogeneities. | background 0.77 | 0.07 | 0.02 | asserted 0.94 |
| s2 | Here, we simulate a number of catalogues of mock FRB observations, and use MCMC techniques to forecast constraints, and assess which parameters will likely be best constrained. | method 0.80 | 0.95 | 0.04 | asserted 0.92 |
| s3 | In all cases we find that any potential improvement in cosmological constraints are limited by the current uncertainty on the the diffuse gas fraction, $f_{\rm d}(z)$. | result 0.96 | 0.92 | 0.34 | asserted 1.00 |
| s4 | Instead, we find that the precision of current cosmological constraints allows one to constrain $f_{\rm d}(z)$, and possibly its redshift evolution. | result 0.89 | 0.94 | 0.54 | asserted 0.68 |
| s5 | Combining CMB + BAO + SNe + $H_0$ constraints with just 100 FRBs (with redshifts), we find a typical constraint on the mean diffuse gas fraction of a few percent. | result 1.00 | 0.95 | 0.24 | asserted 1.00 |
| s6 | A detection of this nature would alleviate the "missing baryon problem", and therefore highlights the value of localisation and spectroscopic followup of future FRB detections. | interpretation 0.97 | 0.26 | 0.16 | asserted 0.57 |
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The paper
Original abstract
The dispersion measure -- redshift relation of Fast Radio Bursts, $\mathrm{DM}(z)$, has been proposed as a potential new probe of the cosmos, complementary to existing techniques. In practice, however, the effectiveness of this approach depends on a number of factors, including (but not limited to) the intrinsic scatter in the data caused by intervening matter inhomogeneities. Here, we simulate a number of catalogues of mock FRB observations, and use MCMC techniques to forecast constraints, and assess which parameters will likely be best constrained. In all cases we find that any potential improvement in cosmological constraints are limited by the current uncertainty on the the diffuse gas fraction, $f_{\rm d}(z)$. Instead, we find that the precision of current cosmological constraints allows one to constrain $f_{\rm d}(z)$, and possibly its redshift evolution. Combining CMB + BAO + SNe + $H_0$ constraints with just 100 FRBs (with redshifts), we find a typical constraint on the mean diffuse gas fraction of a few percent. A detection of this nature would alleviate the "missing baryon problem", and therefore highlights the value of localisation and spectroscopic followup of future FRB detections.
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References
How the literature uses it
5 arXiv papers cite this in 7 sentences
Papers citing it · 3 sentences without a confident label
Uses its method or tool 1 paper
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To investigate the possible redshift evolution of $f_IGM$, we adopt a redshift dependent parametrization of $f_IGM$ [ref] [equation] where $f_IGM,0$ and $α$ are free parameters.
Constraining the Baryon Fraction in Extragalactic Diffuse Ionized Gas with 124 Localized Fast Radio Bursts · Estimation of the Baryon Fraction in the IGM · 0.95
Cites it as background 3 papers
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Consequently, FRBs have been extensively used to probe the baryon fraction in the IGM ($f_IGM$) and to constrain the present cosmic baryon density parameter $Ω_b0$ [ref] .
Constraining the Baryon Fraction in Extragalactic Diffuse Ionized Gas with 124 Localized Fast Radio Bursts · Introduction · 0.84
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They have been used to explore the cosmic reionization history [ref] , constrain the photon rest mass [ref] , and determine cosmological parameters, such as the Hubble constant $H_0$ [ref] , the present cosmic baryon density parameter $Ω_b$, and the diffuse baryon fraction $f_d$ [ref] .
Estimating Cosmological Parameters from Localized Fast Radio Bursts: A Method for Removing Milky Way Dispersion-Measure Contributions · Introduction · 0.86
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A very partial sample of some recent articles using FRB to learn about astrophysics and cosmology includes [ref] .
Detecting Helium Reionization with Fast Radio Bursts · Introduction · 1.00
What it cites · 4 sentences without a confident label
Uses data or values from 2 papers
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We assume these components take the form of zero mean Gaussian noise, with $σ_IGM=10$ [ref] , $σ_MW=15$ [ref] , and $σ_host=50$ [ref] , which we add in quadrature to give $σ=53$ .
Constraining Redshifts of Unlocalised Fast Radio Bursts · Mock Data · 0.93
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Initial estimates suggest the detection rate may be $∼39 sky^-1 day^-1$ for ASKAP [ref] , $∼50 sky^-1 day^-1$ with CHIME and HIRAX [ref] , and possibly as high as $∼10^3 sky^-1 day^-1$ with the SKA [ref] .
Implications from ASKAP Fast Radio Burst Statistics · Introduction · 0.80
Cites as background 3 papers
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The distribution of $$ has been estimated analytically [ref] , as well as numerically, using N-body dark matter simulations of the cosmic web [ref] , or statistical methods [ref] .
Constraining Redshifts of Unlocalised Fast Radio Bursts · Distribution of DMs · 0.83
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The distribution of $$ has been estimated analytically [ref] , as well as numerically, using N-body dark matter simulations of the cosmic web [ref] , or statistical methods [ref] .
Estimates of Fast Radio Burst Dispersion Measures from Cosmological Simulations · Distribution of DMs · 0.83
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With a new generation of radio telescopes coming online, such as the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) [ref] , the Hydrogen Intensity and Real-time Analysis eXperiment (HIRAX) [ref] , Five-hundred metre Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) [ref] , Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) [ref] , Karoo Array Telescope (MeerKAT) [ref] , Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) [ref] , Tianlai Project [ref] , Deep Synoptic Array (DSA) [ref] , and eventually the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) [ref] , expectations are high that many more samples of FRB will be detected in the near future.
DSA-10: A Prototype Array for Localizing Fast Radio Bursts · Introduction · 0.87
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