PULSAR VELOCITIES DUE TO VIOLATION OF THE EQUIVALENCE PRINCIPLE BY NEUTRINOS

Abstract

We consider the pulsar velocity problem and relate it to some unconventional neutrino oscillation mechanisms based on the violation of the equivalence principle by neutrinos. We show that the observed pulsar velocities may be explained by violations at the level from 10-9 to 10-10 in the case of a non-universal tensor neutrino-gravity coupling, whereas there is no solution in the case of a non-universal scalar neutrino-gravity coupling. Neutrinos may remain massless and the requisite magnetic field strength is similar to that in the conventional mass oscillation mechanism.