Searching for Galactic micro-FRB with lunar scattering

Abstract

ABSTRACT Does the Galaxy contain sources of micro-fast radio burst (FRB), lower energy events resembling the known FRB but detectable only at Galactic distances? The answer to this question is essential to determining the nature of FRB sources. At typical (10 kpc) Galactic distances a burst would be about 117 dB brighter than at a ‘cosmological’ (z = 1) distance. The radiation of Galactic micro-FRB, if they exist, could be detected after Lunar reflection, or an upper bound on their rate set, by a modest (20 m at 1.4 GHz) radio telescope staring at the Moon. It would have all-sky sensitivity. The delay between detection of direct (by STARE2 or dipoles) and Lunar-scattered radiation would restrict a burst’s position to a narrow arc.