Pulsar Acceleration by Asymmetric Emission of Sterile Neutrinos

Abstract

A convincing explanation for the observed pulsar large peculiar velocities is still missing. We argue that any viable particle physics solution would most likely involve the resonant production of a noninteracting neutrino νs of mass m ~ 20-50 keV. We propose a model where anisotropic magnetic field configurations strongly bias the resonant spin flavor precession of tau antineutrinos into νs. For internal magnetic fields Bint ≳ 1015 G, a τ-νs transition magnetic moment of the order of 10-12 Bohr magnetons is required. The asymmetric emission of νs from the core can produce sizable natal kicks and account for recoil velocities of several hundred kilometers per second.