Detection and localization of the highly active FRB 20240114A with MeerKAT

We report observations of the highly active FRB 20240114A with MeerKAT using the Ultra-High Frequency (UHF; 544–1088 MHz) and L-band (856–1712 MHz) receivers. A total of 62 bursts were detected in coherent tied-array beams using the MeerTRAP real-time transient detection pipeline. We measure a structure-optimising dispersion measure of 527.65 ± 0.01 pc cm−3 using the brightest burst in the sample. We find the bursts of FRB 20240114A are generally detected in part of the broad band of MeerKAT,
in the UHF and
in the L-band, indicating the band limited nature. We analyse the fluence distribution of the 44 bursts detected at UHF, constraining the fluence completeness limit to ∼1 Jy ms, above which the cumulative burst rate follows a power law R( > F)∝(F/1 Jy ms)γ with γ = −1.8 ± 0.2. Using channelised telescope data captured in our transient buffer we localise FRB 20240114A in the image domain to RA = 21h27m39.86s, Dec = +04d19m45.01s with an uncertainty of 1.4 arcsec. This localisation allows us to confidently identify the host galaxy of FRB 20240114A. Also using the transient buffer data we perform a polarimetric study and demonstrate that most of the bursts have
linear polarisation fractions and up to
circular polarisation fractions. Finally, we predict the flux density of a potential persistent radio source (PRS) associated with FRB 20240114A is ⋍[0.6–60] μJy based on the simple relation between the luminosity of the PRS and the rotation measure arising from the FRB local environment.