Dirac-Neutrino Magnetic Moment and the Dynamics of a Supernova Explosion

TL;DR

This paper investigates how neutrino magnetic moments influence supernova explosions by analyzing neutrino helicity conversions and their energy contributions under specific magnetic field conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of neutrino helicity conversions in supernovae and their potential to supply energy for explosions based on neutrino magnetic moments.

Findings

Neutrino magnetic moments in the range 10^{-13} to 10^{-12} μ_B can significantly impact supernova dynamics.

Resonance spin flip of neutrinos in magnetic fields can inject about 10^{51} erg energy.

This energy injection can be sufficient to trigger or support supernova explosions.

Abstract

The double conversion of the neutrino helicity $\nu_L \to \nu_R \to \nu_L$ has been analyzed for supernova conditions, where the first stage is due to the interaction of the neutrino magnetic moment with plasma electrons and protons in the supernova core, and the second stage, due to the resonance spin flip of the neutrino in the magnetic field of the supernova envelope. It is shown that, in the presence of the neutrino magnetic moment in the range $10^{-13} \mu_{\rm B} < \mu_\nu < 10^{-12} \mu_{\rm B}$ and a magnetic field of $\sim 10^{13}$ G between the neutrinosphere and the shock-stagnation region, an additional energy of about $10^{51}$ erg, which is sufficient for a supernova explosion, can be injected into this region during a typical shock-stagnation time.