Merge branch 'main' of github.com:astroclubiitk/wiki

theory/energetic sources/FRBs.md

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 ---
 
 ## Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs)
+
+Fast Radio Bursts are enigmatic flashes of radio waves coming from deep space and last just milliseconds.
+
+### Some Key Characteristics
+
+1. Duration: Generally, FRBs tend to last just a few milliseconds.
+
+2. Energy: Although less energetic than in the case of [GRBs](./GRBs.html), FRBs still release a huge amount of energy in the form of radio waves.
+
+3. Wavelength: FRBs radiate mainly in the radio part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
+
+4. Dispersion: The radio signal from FRBs gets dispersed due to free electrons present in space. Higher frequencies reach earth before lower ones.
+
+### Origins
+
+The exact cause of FRBs remains one of the biggest mysteries in modern astronomy. Some possible explanations that have been suggested include:
+
+1. Magnetars: Highly magnetized [neutron stars](../special%20stars/neutron%20stars.html) undergoing "starquakes" or magnetic reconnection events. The detection, in 2020, of an FRB-like signal from a Galactic magnetar supports this hypothesis to some extent.
+
+2. Neutron star mergers: Similar to that for short GRBs, but possibly viewed from a different angle.
+
+3. [Pulsar](../special%20stars/pulsars.html) phenomena: Some models interpret FRBs as giant pulses from young, highly magnetized pulsars.
+
+4. Alien signals: Some suspect artificial origins, however, this is now considered extremely improbable.
+
+Primarily, FRBs are detected via radio telescopes like CHIME and ASKAP. The issue with exploring FRBs is that they are very quick, and identifying where they originate from is challenging.
+
+FRBs are valuable tools for the study of the intergalactic medium because radio waves are dispersed by free electrons when they propagate in space. This can be measured, so it helps astronomers to have an estimate of the matter located between Earth and the origin of the FRB.
+
+{: .fun}
+> The FRBs are far more frequent than [GRBs](./GRBs.html). It is possible that thousands of FRBs may be observed all over the sky every day, whereas only a few GRBs can be usually detected daily.

theory/energetic sources/GRBs.md

@@ -8,13 +8,16 @@ nav_order: 5
 
 ## Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs)
 
-Gamma-ray bursts are incredibly powerful explosions that burst forth from distant galaxies. They represent the most luminous electromagnetic events in the universe in terms of release of pure energy.
+Gamma-Ray Bursts are incredibly powerful explosions that burst forth from distant galaxies. They represent the most luminous electromagnetic events in the universe in terms of release of pure energy.
 
 ### Key Characteristics
 
 1. Duration - Bursts generally last between a few milliseconds and several minutes.
-2. Energy - In a few seconds, they emit an amount of energy equal to what our Sun will emit in its whole lifetime which has been predicted to exceed 10 billion years.
+
+2. Energy - In a few seconds, they emit an amount of energy equal to what our Sun will emit in its whole lifetime that has been predicted to exceed 10 billion years.
+
 3. Wavelength: As the name itself indicates, they emit mainly gamma rays, which are of the highest energy among the electromagnetic radiation.
+
 4. Afterglow: In events that follow the burst, GRBs are usually followed by an afterglow in X-ray, ultraviolet, optical, infrared, and radio wavelengths.
 
 {: .fun }