One of the most intriguing challenges in modern time-domain radio astronomy revolves around the phenomenon of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). FRBs are millisecond-duration, Jy-intense, radio transients of extragalactic origin and their nature is yet to be definitively understood. Thus far, FRBs have only been observed in the radio band. While their origin remains ambiguous, observational evidence suggests that magnetars, highly-magnetised neutron stars, may be the potential sources behind at least some of these bursts.

In this presentation, I will discuss the diverse efforts of the Italian community in the study of FRBs from 2020 to the present. This encompasses the development of dedicated facilities, software development, and the execution of extensive pan-chromatic campaigns toward known FRB sources. Additionally, I will elaborate on INAF's involvement in the upcoming Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio-Transient Detector (CHORD), an upgrade to the CHIME telescope. With its expansive field of view and real-time capabilities for detecting and precisely localising these events, CHORD is poised to be a game-changer, charting new frontiers in understanding this mysterious phenomenon.

Breve CV del Dr. Matteo Trudu:

Matteo Trudu ha completato tutti i suoi studi all'Università di Cagliari. Dopo la laurea magistrale, Matteo Trudu ha trascorso un anno come tirocinante all'INAF- Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari. Successivamente, ha iniziato il suo programma di Dottorato sotto la supervisione di Maura Pilia e Andrea Possenti, concentrandosi sullo studio dei Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). Attualmente è un ricercatore post-dottorato all'Osservatorio di Cagliari finanziato dal PNRR, dove contribuisce allo sviluppo di  CHORD, un radiotelescopio e successore di CHIME che sarà principalmente dedicato alla comprensione dei FRBs.