Dark Lepton Superfluid in Proto-Neutron Stars

TL;DR

This paper proposes that neutrino portal bosons can form a lepton number superfluid inside proto-neutron stars, potentially affecting their evolution, neutrino emissions, and nucleosynthesis processes.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a lepton number superfluid phase formed by neutrino portal bosons within proto-neutron stars, a novel state not previously considered.

Findings

Bosons condense into a Bose-Einstein condensate inside proto-neutron stars.

The superfluid phase significantly alters transport properties of the star.

Potential impacts on neutrino signals and nucleosynthesis are discussed.

Abstract

We find that sub-GeV neutrino portal bosons that carry lepton number can condense inside a proto-neutron star (newly born neutron star). These bosons are produced copiously and form a Bose-Einstein condensate for a range of as yet unconstrained coupling strengths to neutrinos. The condensate is a lepton number superfluid with transport properties that differ dramatically from those encountered in ordinary dense baryonic matter. We discuss how this phase could alter the evolution of proto-neutron stars and comment on the implications for neutrino signals and nucleosynthesis.