Constraining the nature of FRB-emitting bunches via photo-magnetic cascades

Abstract: We provide constraints on the nature of particle bunches that power fast radio bursts (FRBs) in the coherent curvature radiation model. It has been shown that current-induced perturbation to the motion of individual particles results in a high-energy, incoherent component of emission. We consider photo-magnetic interactions and show that the high-energy radiation can produce pairs which screen the accelerating electric field. We find that to avoid catastrophic cascades that quench emission, bunches capable of producing FRBs must have a modest density $n_e \approx 10^{13-14}\, {\rm cm^{-3}}$, and likely propagate along field lines with large curvature radii, $\rho > 10^8 \, {\rm cm}$. This rules out rapidly rotating magnetars as FRB sources within the coherent curvature radiation model.