Neutrino induced waves in degenerate electron plasmas: a mechanism in supernovae or gamma ray bursts?

Abstract

We consider a process related to the inverse of photon/plasmon decay to neutrino–antineutrino pairs; the stimulated emission of photons and plasmons by the intense flux of neutrinos and antineutrinos present during the neutrino burst of a core collapse supernova. We find physically insignificant emission and plasma heating unless a magnetic field is present, with strength >10 15 G. For plasma electron temperatures ∼1 MeV, a population of waves enhanced over thermal levels in the postshock plasma is also required. The magnetic field is consistent with recent theory and observations concerning highly magnetic pulsars, known as magnetars. The status of this field is briefly reviewed, and the possibility that this instability might also apply to models of gamma ray bursts is also explored.