Detectable MeV Neutrino Signals from Neutron-Star Common-Envelope Systems

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Esteban, Ivan, Beacom, John F., Kopp, Joachim
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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author Esteban, Ivan
Beacom, John F.
Kopp, Joachim
author_facet Esteban, Ivan
Beacom, John F.
Kopp, Joachim
contents Common-envelope evolution - where a star is engulfed by a companion - is a critical but poorly understood step in, e.g., the formation pathways for gravitational-wave sources. However, it has been extremely challenging to identify observable signatures of such systems. We show that for systems involving a neutron star, the hypothesized super-Eddington accretion onto the neutron star produces MeV-range, months-long neutrino signals within reach of present and planned detectors. While there are substantial uncertainties on the rate of such events (0.01-1/century in the Milky Way) and the neutrino luminosity (which may be less than the accretion power), this signal can only be found if dedicated new analyses are developed. If detected, the neutrino signal would probe super-Eddington accretion, leading to significant new insights into the astrophysics of common-envelope evolution.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2310_19868
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Detectable MeV Neutrino Signals from Neutron-Star Common-Envelope Systems
Esteban, Ivan
Beacom, John F.
Kopp, Joachim
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
High Energy Physics - Experiment
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Common-envelope evolution - where a star is engulfed by a companion - is a critical but poorly understood step in, e.g., the formation pathways for gravitational-wave sources. However, it has been extremely challenging to identify observable signatures of such systems. We show that for systems involving a neutron star, the hypothesized super-Eddington accretion onto the neutron star produces MeV-range, months-long neutrino signals within reach of present and planned detectors. While there are substantial uncertainties on the rate of such events (0.01-1/century in the Milky Way) and the neutrino luminosity (which may be less than the accretion power), this signal can only be found if dedicated new analyses are developed. If detected, the neutrino signal would probe super-Eddington accretion, leading to significant new insights into the astrophysics of common-envelope evolution.
title Detectable MeV Neutrino Signals from Neutron-Star Common-Envelope Systems
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
High Energy Physics - Experiment
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.19868