# Is the radio emission made in the neutron star's magnetosphere or in shocks far from it? · Fast radio bursts and the origin of the one-off bursts > Three answers have been proposed. Coherent emission within or just beyond a neutron-star magnetosphere. leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMBCW2KQH/is-the-radio-emission-made-in-the-neutron-stars Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:23+00:00 --- **0** # Is the radio emission made in the neutron star's magnetosphere or in shocks far from it? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What produces most of the one-off fast radio bursts?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMB5213XT/what-produces-most-of-the-one-off-fast-radio-bursts)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: coherent emission within or just beyond a neutron-star magnetosphere** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. Coherent emission within or just beyond a neutron-star magnetosphere. leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters The two classes of model predict emission regions of very different sizes and different polarisation behaviour⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVCM3JW4V3J/the-physical-mechanisms-of-fast-radio-bursts)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVCM4AA591W/magnetospheric-origin-of-a-fast-radio-burst-constrained); the answer constrains what kind of engine and environment the bursts need. ## Answers 3 [**Coherent emission within or just beyond a neutron-star magnetosphere.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/answers/ANS0CVCMG941PMC/coherent-emission-within-or-just-beyond-a-neutron-star) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/answers/ANS0CVCMHR0110F/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**Synchrotron maser emission from shocks at large distances from the central engine.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/answers/ANS0CVCMH0J4F7D/synchrotron-maser-emission-from-shocks-at-large-distances) Tested, but the results don't decide it Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed ## History 1. 2020[Zhang puts forward: coherent emission within or just beyond a neutron-star magnetosphere.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVCM3JW4V3J/the-physical-mechanisms-of-fast-radio-bursts) 1. 2020[Zhang puts forward: synchrotron maser emission from shocks at large distances from the central engine.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVCM3JW4V3J/the-physical-mechanisms-of-fast-radio-bursts) 1. 2020[Bochenek et al.: the SGR 1935+2154 burst coincided with an X-ray burst, which STARE2 noted favours synchrotron-maser or…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVCM14R24B3/a-fast-radio-burst-associated-with-a-galactic-magnetar)For: Synchrotron maser emission from shocks at large distances from the central engine. 1. 2025[Nimmo et al.: fRB 20221022A has a lateral emitting region under about 3 × 10⁴ km.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVCM4AA591W/magnetospheric-origin-of-a-fast-radio-burst-constrained)For: Coherent emission within or just beyond a neutron-star magnetosphere. 1. 2025[Mckinven et al.: fRB 20221022A shows a 130 degree S-shaped polarisation swing fitted by the rotating vector model.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVCM4J45ACR/a-pulsar-like-polarization-angle-swing-from-a-nearby-fast)For: Coherent emission within or just beyond a neutron-star magnetosphere. 1. 2025[Nimmo et al.: the FRB 20221022A scintillation result is inconsistent with large-radius models.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVCM4AA591W/magnetospheric-origin-of-a-fast-radio-burst-constrained)Against: Synchrotron maser emission from shocks at large distances from the central engine. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMBCW2KQH/is-the-radio-emission-made-in-the-neutron-stars%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMBCW2KQH/is-the-radio-emission-made-in-the-neutron-stars%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMBCW2KQH/is-the-radio-emission-made-in-the-neutron-stars%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMBCW2KQH/is-the-radio-emission-made-in-the-neutron-stars%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMBCW2KQH/is-the-radio-emission-made-in-the-neutron-stars%23add-source) Where it fits Fast radio bursts and the origin of the one-off bursts [**What produces most of the one-off fast radio bursts?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMB5213XT/what-produces-most-of-the-one-off-fast-radio-bursts)Key question · most likely magnetars or other neutron stars formed late, by mergers of neutron stars or white dwarfs or by the collapse… [How do burst sources come to be in old star clusters and dead galaxies?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMC4A44GR/how-do-burst-sources-come-to-be-in-old-star-clusters-and)Open · 3 answers, inconclusive **Is the radio emission made in the neutron star's magnetosphere or in shocks far from it?** You're here · coherent emission within or just beyond a neutron-star magnetosphere [ Ask a question under this one ]