A persistently active fast radio burst source embedded in an expanding supernova remnant

Chen Hui Niu; Di Li; Yuan Pei Yang; Yuhao Zhu; Yongkun Zhang; Jia Heng Zhang; Zexin Du; Jumei Yao; Xiaoping Zheng; Pei Wang; Yi Feng; Bing Zhang; Weiwei Zhu; Wenfei Yu; Ji An Jiang; Shi Dai; Chao Wei Tsai; A. Ming Chen; Yijun Hou; Jiarui Niu; Weiyang Wang; Chenchen Miao; Xinming Li; Junshuo Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.scib.2025.11.023

A persistently active fast radio burst source embedded in an expanding supernova remnant

Chen Hui Niu, Di Li, Yuan Pei Yang, Yuhao Zhu, Yongkun Zhang, Jia Heng Zhang, Zexin Du, Jumei Yao, Xiaoping Zheng, Pei Wang, Yi Feng, Bing Zhang, Weiwei Zhu, Wenfei Yu, Ji An Jiang, Shi Dai, Chao Wei Tsai, A. Ming Chen, Yijun Hou, Jiarui NiuWeiyang Wang, Chenchen Miao, Xinming Li, Junshuo Zhang

Western Sydney University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) remain one of the most puzzling astrophysical phenomena. While most FRBs are detected only once or sporadically, we present the identification of FRB 20190520B as the first persistently active source over a continuous span of ∼4 years. This rare long-term activity enabled a detailed investigation of its dispersion measure (DM) evolution. We also report that FRB 20190520B exhibits a substantial decrease in DM at a global rate of (-12.4±0.3) pc cm⁻³ yr^-1, exceeding previous FRB's DM variation measurements by a factor of three and surpassing those observed in pulsars by orders of magnitude. The magnitude and consistency of the DM evolution, along with a high host DM contribution, strongly indicate that the source resides in a dense, expanding ionized medium, likely a young supernova remnant (SNR).

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	76-82
Number of pages	7
Journal	Science Bulletin
Volume	71
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2025.11.023
Publication status	Published - Jan 2026

Keywords

Dispersion measure
Fast radio bursts
FRB 20190520B
Propagation effect
Supernova remnant

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Niu, C. H., Li, D., Yang, Y. P., Zhu, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhang, J. H., Du, Z., Yao, J., Zheng, X., Wang, P., Feng, Y., Zhang, B., Zhu, W., Yu, W., Jiang, J. A., Dai, S., Tsai, C. W., Chen, A. M., Hou, Y., ... Zhang, J. (2026). A persistently active fast radio burst source embedded in an expanding supernova remnant. Science Bulletin, 71(1), 76-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2025.11.023

@article{b988693f9e70411e9578dfc33ccc462f,

title = "A persistently active fast radio burst source embedded in an expanding supernova remnant",

abstract = "Fast radio bursts (FRBs) remain one of the most puzzling astrophysical phenomena. While most FRBs are detected only once or sporadically, we present the identification of FRB 20190520B as the first persistently active source over a continuous span of ∼4 years. This rare long-term activity enabled a detailed investigation of its dispersion measure (DM) evolution. We also report that FRB 20190520B exhibits a substantial decrease in DM at a global rate of (-12.4±0.3) pc cm−3 yr-1, exceeding previous FRB's DM variation measurements by a factor of three and surpassing those observed in pulsars by orders of magnitude. The magnitude and consistency of the DM evolution, along with a high host DM contribution, strongly indicate that the source resides in a dense, expanding ionized medium, likely a young supernova remnant (SNR).",

keywords = "Dispersion measure, Fast radio bursts, FRB 20190520B, Propagation effect, Supernova remnant",

author = "Niu, {Chen Hui} and Di Li and Yang, {Yuan Pei} and Yuhao Zhu and Yongkun Zhang and Zhang, {Jia Heng} and Zexin Du and Jumei Yao and Xiaoping Zheng and Pei Wang and Yi Feng and Bing Zhang and Weiwei Zhu and Wenfei Yu and Jiang, {Ji An} and Shi Dai and Tsai, {Chao Wei} and Chen, {A. Ming} and Yijun Hou and Jiarui Niu and Weiyang Wang and Chenchen Miao and Xinming Li and Junshuo Zhang",

year = "2026",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1016/j.scib.2025.11.023",

language = "English",

volume = "71",

pages = "76--82",

journal = "Science Bulletin",

issn = "2095-9273",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

number = "1",

}

Niu, CH, Li, D, Yang, YP, Zhu, Y, Zhang, Y, Zhang, JH, Du, Z, Yao, J, Zheng, X, Wang, P, Feng, Y, Zhang, B, Zhu, W, Yu, W, Jiang, JA, Dai, S, Tsai, CW, Chen, AM, Hou, Y, Niu, J, Wang, W, Miao, C, Li, X & Zhang, J 2026, 'A persistently active fast radio burst source embedded in an expanding supernova remnant', Science Bulletin, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 76-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2025.11.023

TY - JOUR

T1 - A persistently active fast radio burst source embedded in an expanding supernova remnant

AU - Niu, Chen Hui

AU - Li, Di

AU - Yang, Yuan Pei

AU - Zhu, Yuhao

AU - Zhang, Yongkun

AU - Zhang, Jia Heng

AU - Du, Zexin

AU - Yao, Jumei

AU - Zheng, Xiaoping

AU - Wang, Pei

AU - Feng, Yi

AU - Zhang, Bing

AU - Zhu, Weiwei

AU - Yu, Wenfei

AU - Jiang, Ji An

AU - Dai, Shi

AU - Tsai, Chao Wei

AU - Chen, A. Ming

AU - Hou, Yijun

AU - Niu, Jiarui

AU - Wang, Weiyang

AU - Miao, Chenchen

AU - Li, Xinming

AU - Zhang, Junshuo

PY - 2026/1

Y1 - 2026/1

N2 - Fast radio bursts (FRBs) remain one of the most puzzling astrophysical phenomena. While most FRBs are detected only once or sporadically, we present the identification of FRB 20190520B as the first persistently active source over a continuous span of ∼4 years. This rare long-term activity enabled a detailed investigation of its dispersion measure (DM) evolution. We also report that FRB 20190520B exhibits a substantial decrease in DM at a global rate of (-12.4±0.3) pc cm−3 yr-1, exceeding previous FRB's DM variation measurements by a factor of three and surpassing those observed in pulsars by orders of magnitude. The magnitude and consistency of the DM evolution, along with a high host DM contribution, strongly indicate that the source resides in a dense, expanding ionized medium, likely a young supernova remnant (SNR).

AB - Fast radio bursts (FRBs) remain one of the most puzzling astrophysical phenomena. While most FRBs are detected only once or sporadically, we present the identification of FRB 20190520B as the first persistently active source over a continuous span of ∼4 years. This rare long-term activity enabled a detailed investigation of its dispersion measure (DM) evolution. We also report that FRB 20190520B exhibits a substantial decrease in DM at a global rate of (-12.4±0.3) pc cm−3 yr-1, exceeding previous FRB's DM variation measurements by a factor of three and surpassing those observed in pulsars by orders of magnitude. The magnitude and consistency of the DM evolution, along with a high host DM contribution, strongly indicate that the source resides in a dense, expanding ionized medium, likely a young supernova remnant (SNR).

KW - Dispersion measure

KW - Fast radio bursts

KW - FRB 20190520B

KW - Propagation effect

KW - Supernova remnant

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DO - 10.1016/j.scib.2025.11.023

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105024189748

SN - 2095-9273

VL - 71

SP - 76

EP - 82

JO - Science Bulletin

JF - Science Bulletin

IS - 1

ER -

A persistently active fast radio burst source embedded in an expanding supernova remnant

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Keywords

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