TeV neutrinos from accreting X-ray pulsars

TL;DR

This paper investigates the production of TeV neutrinos from accreting X-ray pulsars, modeling hadron acceleration and interactions in the pulsar magnetosphere to predict neutrino signals detectable by km$^2$ observatories.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed model of hadron acceleration and neutrino production in accreting X-ray pulsars, providing predictions for neutrino event rates in large detectors.

Findings

Neutrino event rates are estimated for galactic X-ray pulsars.

Accreting pulsars can produce detectable TeV neutrinos.

Predicted neutrino fluxes depend on pulsar parameters and accretion conditions.

Abstract

Pulsars inside binary systems can accrete matter that arrives up to the pulsar surface provided that its period is long enough. During the accretion process, matter has to be accelerated to the rotational velocity of the pulsar magnetosphere at the distance where the balance between the pressure of matter and the magnetic field is achieved. At this distance, a very turbulent and magnetized region is formed in which hadrons can be accelerated to relativistic energies. These hadrons can interact with the very strong radiation field coming from the hot polar cap on the neutron star surface created by the in-falling matter. We calculate the neutrino event rates produced in an km$^2$ detector that can be expected from accreting millisecond and classical X-ray pulsars at a typical distance within our own Galaxy.