Neutron star natal kick and jets in core collapse supernovae

TL;DR

This study investigates the relationship between neutron star natal kicks and jet directions in supernova remnants, finding a mostly random distribution with some missing small angles, challenging previous claims of alignment.

Contribution

It provides the first observational analysis of jet-kick angle distribution in supernova remnants, ruling out jet-kick alignment and discussing implications for explosion mechanisms.

Findings

Distribution of jet-kick angles is nearly random.

Jet-kick alignment is statistically ruled out.

Jet feedback explosion mechanism may explain the observed distribution.

Abstract

We measure the angle between the neutron star (NS) natal kick direction and the inferred direction of jets according to the morphology of 12 core collapse supernova remnants (SNR), and find that the distribution is almost random, but missing small angles. The 12 SNRs are those for which we could both identify morphological features that we can attribute to jets and for which the direction of the NS natal kick is given in the literature. Unlike some claims for spin-kick alignment, here we rule out jet-kick alignment. We discuss the cumulative distribution function of the jet-kick angles under the assumption that dense clumps that are ejected by the explosion accelerate the NS by the gravitational attraction, and suggest that the jet feedback explosion mechanism might in principle account for the distribution of jet-kick angles.