Constraints on the progenitor models of fast radio bursts from population synthesis with the first CHIME/FRB catalog

¹ Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, Department of Physics, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
² Department of Physics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China

^⋆ Corresponding author: dengcm@gxu.edu.cn

Received: 25 June 2024
Accepted: 23 April 2025

Abstract

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are enigmatic extragalactic radio transients with unknown origins. We performed comprehensive Monte Carlo simulations based on the first CHIME/FRB catalog to test whether the FRB population tracks the cosmic star formation history directly or requires a delay. By fully considering CHIME's complex selection effects and beam response, we find that the hypothesis that the FRB population tracks the SFH is not ruled out by the current data, although a small delay is preferred. This is consistent with the scenario in which young magnetars formed through core-collapse supernovae serve as the progenitors of FRBs. However, we estimate the local volumetric rate of FRB sources with energy above 10³⁸ erg to be 2.3_−1.2^+2.4 × 10⁵ Gpc⁻³ yr⁻¹, which is consistent with previous results. This high volumetric rate means the core-collapse magnetar scenario alone cannot fully account for the observed population. Further theoretical efforts are required to explore alternative or additional progenitor channels for FRBs.