Detection and localization of the highly active FRB 20240114A with MeerKAT

We report observations of the highly active FRB 20240114A with MeerKAT using the ultra-high frequency (UHF; 544-1088 MHz) and L band (856-1712 MHz) receivers. A total of 62 bursts were detected in coherent tied-array beams using the MeerTRAP real-time transient detection pipeline. We measure a structure-optimizing dispersion measure of 527.65 +/- 0.01 pc cm(-3) using the brightest burst in the sample. We find the bursts of FRB 20240114A are generally detected in part of the broad-band of MeerKAT similar to 40 per cent in the UHF and similar to 30 per cent in the L band, indicating the band limited nature. We analyse the fluence distribution of the 44 bursts detected at UHF, constraining the fluence completeness limit to similar to 1 Jy ms, above which the cumulative burst rate follows a power law R(> F) proportional to (F/1 Jy ms)(gamma) with gamma = -1.8 +/- 0.2. Using channelized telescope data captured in our transient buffer we localize FRB 20240114A in the image domain to RA = 21h27m39.86s, Dec. = +04d19m45.01s with an uncertainty of 1.4 arcsec. This localization allows us to confidently identify the host galaxy of FRB 20240114A. Also using the transient buffer data, we perform a polarimetric study and demonstrate that most of the bursts have similar to 100 per cent linear polarization fractions and up to similar to 20 per cent circular polarization fractions. Finally, we predict the flux density of a potential persistent radio source (PRS) associated with FRB 20240114A is (sic) [0.6-60] mu Jy based on the simple relation between the luminosity of the PRS and the rotation measure arising from the FRB local environment.