A Comparative Study of Host Galaxy Properties between Fast Radio Bursts and Stellar Transients

Abstract

Recent arcsecond localizations of fast radio bursts and identifications of their host galaxies confirmed their extragalactic origin. While FRB 121102 resides in the bright region of a dwarf star-forming galaxy, other FRBs reside in more massive galaxies and are related to older stellar populations. We compare the host galaxy properties of nine FRBs with those of several types of stellar transients: from young to old populations, long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs), superluminous supernovae (SLSNe), SNe Ibc, SNe II, SNe Ia, and short-duration gamma-ray bursts (SGRBs). We find that the stellar mass and star formation rate of the FRB host galaxies, taken as a whole sample, prefer a medium to old population, and are against a young population, similar to LGRBs and SLSNe by a null probability of 0.02. Individually, the host of FRB 121102 is consistent with that of young population objects; the environment of FRB 180924 is similar to that of SGRBs; and the environment of FRB 190523 is similar to those of SNe Ia. These results are consistent with the magnetar engine model for FRBs, if magnetars produced from extreme explosions (GRBs/SLSNe) and those from regular channels (e.g., those producing Galactic magnetars) can both produce FRBs.