Bursts of Gravitational Waves Driven by Neutrino Oscillations

Abstract

Active-to-sterile neutrino oscillations and nonspherical distortion of the resonance surface may trigger asymmetric emission of sterile neutrinos during the core bounce of a supernova collapse. The huge binding energy released and the proto-neutron star rapid rotation may power bursts of gravitational waves by the time the neutrino flavor conversions ensue. These bursts would be detectable up to distances of ~2.2 Mpc. The relativistic requirement of an ellipsoidal axisymmetric core at maximum gravitational wave emission may be explained by the neutrinosphere geometry at the oscillations' onset. Thus, neutrino oscillations might naturally be the underlying mechanism producing asymmetric structures, neutron star kicks, and bipolar jet ejecta in supernovae.