The FRB 121102 Host Is Atypical among Nearby Fast Radio Bursts

Abstract

We search for host galaxy candidates of nearby fast radio bursts (FRBs), FRB 180729.J1316+55, FRB 171020, FRB 171213, FRB 180810.J1159+83, and FRB 180814.J0422+73 (the second repeating FRB). We compare the absolute magnitudes and the expected host dispersion measure DM<inf>host</inf> of these candidates with that of the first repeating FRB, FRB 121102, as well as those of long gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) and superluminous supernovae (SLSNe), the proposed progenitor systems of FRB 121102. We find that while the FRB 121102 host is consistent with those of LGRBs and SLSNe, the nearby FRB host candidates, at least for FRB 180729.J1316+55, FRB 171020, and FRB 180814.J0422+73, either have a smaller DM<inf>host</inf> or are fainter than FRB 121102 host, as well as the hosts of LGRBs and SLSNe. In order to avoid the uncertainty in estimating DM<inf>host</inf> due to the line-of-sight effect, we propose a galaxy-group-based method to estimate the electron density in the intergalactic regions, and hence, DM<inf>IGM</inf>. The result strengthens our conclusion. We conclude that the host galaxy of FRB 121102 is atypical, and LGRBs and SLSNe are likely not the progenitor systems of at least most nearby FRB sources. The recently reported two FRB hosts differ from the host of FRB 121102 and also the host candidates suggested in this paper. This is consistent with the conclusion of our paper and suggests that the FRB hosts are very diverse.