HYDRODYNAMICAL NEUTRON STAR KICKS IN THREE DIMENSIONS

Journal Article · Fri Dec 10 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Astrophysical Journal Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/725/1/L106· OSTI ID:21454907

Wongwathanarat, Annop; Janka, Hans-Thomas; Mueller, Ewald ^[1]

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1. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Astrophysik, Karl-Schwarzschild-Str. 1, D-85748 Garching (Germany)

Using three-dimensional (3D) simulations of neutrino-powered supernova explosions, we show that the hydrodynamical kick scenario proposed by Scheck et al. on the basis of two-dimensional (2D) models can yield large neutron star (NS) recoil velocities also in 3D. Although the shock stays relatively spherical, standing accretion-shock and convective instabilities lead to a globally asymmetric mass and energy distribution in the post-shock layer. An anisotropic momentum distribution of the ejecta is built up only after the explosion sets in. Total momentum conservation implies the acceleration of the NS on a timescale of 1-3 s, mediated mainly by long-lasting, asymmetric accretion downdrafts and the anisotropic gravitational pull of large inhomogeneities in the ejecta. In a limited set of 15 M{sub sun} models with an explosion energy of about 10{sup 51} erg, this stochastic mechanism is found to produce kicks from <100 km s{sup -1} to {approx}>500 km s{sup -1}, and kicks {approx}>1000 km s{sup -1} seem possible. Strong rotational flows around the accreting NS do not develop in our collapsing, non-rotating progenitors. The NS spins therefore remain low with estimated periods of {approx}500-1000 ms and no alignment with the kicks.

• OSTI ID: 21454907
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 725, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/2041-8205/725/1/L106; ISSN 2041-8205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
ANISOTROPY
ASTROPHYSICS
ASYMMETRY
CONVECTIVE INSTABILITIES
ENERGY SPECTRA
EXPLOSIONS
NEUTRINOS
NEUTRON STARS
PULSARS
STOCHASTIC PROCESSES
SUPERNOVAE
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
BINARY STARS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
FERMIONS
INSTABILITY
LEPTONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
PHYSICS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
SPECTRA
STARS
VARIABLE STARS