Observational Consequences of Topological Currents in Neutron Stars

TL;DR

This paper explores how topological vector currents, arising from weak interaction P-symmetry violation, can explain various phenomena in neutron stars such as kicks, jets, magnetic fields, and helicity, with potential observational signatures.

Contribution

It demonstrates that topological currents can account for neutron star phenomena and predicts observable polarization signatures.

Findings

Topological currents can produce sufficient momentum for neutron star kicks.

They can generate large toroidal magnetic fields and helicity.

A faint circular polarization in X-rays may indicate these currents.

Abstract

We argue that topological vector currents may be the source of many phenomena in neutron stars: kicks, jets, toroidal fields and magnetic helicity. Topological vector currents exist because of the P-symmetry violation of the weak interaction. Kicks and helicity are both objects that transform as pseudovectors and thus require P-symmetry violation to manifest themselves. This symmetry argument is supported numerically; topological currents provide transfer enough momentum to describe even the largest of kicks and can generate large toroidal fields that create helicity. An observational signature of currents is a faint left circular polarization in the X-rays in the wake of the neutron star that may require high precision polarimetry to see.