Theoretical Support for the Hydrodynamic Mechanism of Pulsar Kicks
Oct, 2010
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Abstract: (arXiv)
The collapse of a massive star's core, followed by a neutrino-driven, asymmetric supernova explosion, can naturally lead to pulsar recoils and neutron star kicks. Here, we present a two-dimensional, radiation-hydrodynamic simulation in which core collapse leads to significant acceleration of a fully-formed, nascent neutron star (NS) via an induced, neutrino-driven explosion. During the explosion, a ~10% anisotropy in the low-mass, high-velocity ejecta lead to recoil of the high-mass neutron star. At the end of our simulation, the NS has achieved a velocity of ~150 km s and is accelerating at ~350 km s, but has yet to reach the ballistic regime. The recoil is due almost entirely to hydrodynamical processes, with anisotropic neutrino emission contributing less than 2% to the overall kick magnitude. Since the observed distribution of neutron star kick velocities peaks at ~300-400 km s, recoil due to anisotropic core-collapse supernovae provides a natural, non-exotic mechanism with which to obtain neutron star kicks.Note:
- Replaced with Phys. Rev. D accepted version
- 95.30.Jx
- 97.60.Gb
- 97.60.Jd
- 97.60.Bw
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