Neutrino magnetohydrodynamics

TL;DR

This paper develops a new neutrino magnetohydrodynamics model that includes weak force effects, revealing a neutrino-driven instability and magnetic field line breaking in dense, magnetized plasmas like supernovae.

Contribution

The paper introduces a systematic NMHD model incorporating Fermi neutrino weak force effects, and analyzes associated instabilities and magnetic field behavior in astrophysical plasmas.

Findings

Identifies a fast neutrino-driven short wavelength instability.

Shows neutrino coupling can break magnetic field lines in ideal plasmas.

Provides a simplified NMHD framework for astrophysical applications.

Abstract

A new neutrino magnetohydrodynamics (NMHD) model is formulated, where the effects of the charged weak current on the electron-ion magnetohydrodynamic fluid are taken into account. The model incorporates in a systematic way the role of the Fermi neutrino weak force in magnetized plasmas. A fast neutrino-driven short wavelengths instability associated with the magnetosonic wave is derived. Such an instability should play a central role in strongly magnetized plasma as occurs in supernovae, where dense neutrino beams also exist. In addition, in the case of nonlinear or high frequency waves, the neutrino coupling is shown to be responsible for breaking the frozen-in magnetic field lines condition even in infinite conductivity plasmas. Simplified and ideal NMHD assumptions were adopted and analyzed in detail.