No Arabic abstract
We propose a simple model to explain the velocity of young neutron stars. We attempt to confirm a relationship between the amount of mass ejected in the formation of the neutron star and the `kick velocity imparted to the compact remnant resulting from the process. We assume the velocity is given by $v_{rm kick}=alpha,(M_{rm ejecta} / M_{rm remnant}) + beta,$. To test this simple relationship we use the BPASS (Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis) code to create stellar population models from both single and binary star evolutionary pathways. We then use our Remnant Ejecta and Progenitor Explosion Relationship (REAPER) code to apply different $alpha$ and $beta$ values and three different `kick orientations then record the resulting velocity probability distributions. We find that while a single star population provides a poor fit to the observational data, the binary population provides an excellent fit. Values of $alpha=70, {rm km,s^{-1}}$ and $beta=110,{rm km,s^{-1}}$ reproduce the cite{RN165} observed 2-dimensional velocities and $alpha=70, {rm km,s^{-1}}$ and $beta=120,{rm km,s^{-1}}$ reproduce their inferred 3-dimensional velocity distribution for nearby single neutron stars with ages less than 3 Myrs. After testing isotropic, spin-axis aligned and orthogonal to spin-axis `kick orientations, we find no statistical preference for a `kick orientation. While ejecta mass cannot be the only factor that determines the velocity of supernovae compact remnants, we suggest it is a significant contributor and that the ejecta based `kick should replace the Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distribution currently used in many population synthesis codes.
We present 3D simulations of supernova (SN) explosions of nonrotating stars, triggered by the neutrino-heating mechanism with a suitable choice of the core-neutrino luminosity. Our results show that asymmetric mass ejection caused by hydrodynamic instabilities can accelerate the neutron star (NS) up to recoil velocities of more than 700 km/s by the gravitational tug-boat mechanism, which is enough to explain most observed pulsar velocities. The associated NS spin periods are about 100 ms to 8 s without any correlation between spin and kick magnitudes or directions. This suggests that faster spins and a possible spin-kick alignment might require angular momentum in the progenitor core prior to collapse. Our simulations for the first time demonstrate a clear correlation between the size of the NS kick and anisotropic ejection of heavy elements created by explosive burning behind the shock. In the case of large NS kicks the explosion is significantly stronger opposite to the kick vector. Therefore the bulk of the Fe-group elements, in particular nickel, is ejected mostly in large clumps against the kick direction. This contrasts with the case of low recoil velocity, where the Ni-rich lumps are more isotropically distributed. Intermediate-mass nuclei heavier than Si (like Ca and Ti) also exhibit a significant enhancement in the hemisphere opposite to the direction of fast NS motion, while the distribution of C, O, and Ne is not affected, and that of Mg only marginally. Mapping the spatial distribution of the heavy elements in SN remnants with identified pulsar motion may offer an important diagnostic test of the kick mechanism. Different from kick scenarios based on anisotropic neutrino emission, our hydrodynamical acceleration model predicts enhanced ejection of Fe-group elements and of their nuclear precursors in the direction opposite to the NS recoil. (abridged)
The birth properties of neutron stars yield important information on the still debated physical processes that trigger the explosion and on intrinsic neutron-star physics. These properties include the high space velocities of young neutron stars with average values of several 100 km/s, whose underlying kick mechanism is not finally clarified. There are two competing possibilities that could accelerate NSs during their birth: anisotropic ejection of either stellar debris or neutrinos. We here present new evidence from X-ray measurements that chemical elements between silicon and calcium in six young gaseous supernova remnants are preferentially expelled opposite to the direction of neutron star motion. There is no correlation between the kick velocities and magnetic field strengths of these neutron stars. Our results support a hydrodynamic origin of neutron-star kicks connected to asymmetric explosive mass ejection, and they conflict with neutron-star acceleration scenarios that invoke anisotropic neutrino emission caused by particle and nuclear physics in combination with very strong neutron-star magnetic fields.
We study the long-term evolution of ejecta formed in a binary neutron star (BNS) merger that results in a long-lived remnant NS by performing a hydrodynamics simulation with the outflow data of a numerical relativity simulation as the initial condition. At the homologously expanding phase, the total ejecta mass reaches $approx0.1,M_odot$ with an average velocity of $approx0.1,c$ and lanthanide fraction of $approx 0.005$. We further perform the radiative transfer simulation employing the obtained ejecta profile. We find that, contrary to a naive expectation from the large ejecta mass and low lanthanide fraction, the optical emission is not as bright as that in GW170817/AT2017gfo, while the infrared emission can be brighter. This light curve property is attributed to preferential diffusion of photons toward the equatorial direction due to the prolate ejecta morphology, large opacity contribution of Zr, Y, and lanthanides, and low specific heating rate of the ejecta. Our results suggest that these light curve features could be used as an indicator for the presence of a long-lived remnant NS. We also found that the bright optical emission broadly consistent with GW170817/AT2017gfo is realized for the case that the high-velocity ejecta components in the polar region are suppressed. These results suggest that the remnant in GW170817/AT2017gfo is unlikely to be a long-lived NS, but might have collapsed to a black hole within ${cal O}(0.1)$ s.
We present results from a suite of axisymmetric, core-collapse supernova simulations in which hydrodynamic recoil from an asymmetric explosion produces large proto-neutron star (PNS) velocities. We use the adaptive-mesh refinement code CASTRO to self-consistently follow core-collapse, the formation of the PNS and its subsequent acceleration. We obtain recoil velocities of up to 620 km/s at ~1 s after bounce. These velocities are consistent with the observed distribution of pulsar kicks and with PNS velocities obtained in other theoretical calculations. Our PNSs are still accelerating at several hundred km/s at the end of our calculations, suggesting that even the highest velocity pulsars may be explained by hydrodynamic recoil in generic, core-collapse supernovae.
The origin of ultra-wide massive binaries (orbital separations $10^3-2times 10^5$~AU) and their properties are not well characterized nor understood. Here we use the second Gaia data release to search for wide astrometric companions to Galactic O-B5 stars which share similar parallax and proper motion with the primaries. Using the data we characterize the frequency and properties of such binaries. We find an ultra-wide multiplicity fraction of $4.4pm0.5$ per cent, to our completeness limit (up to $approx 17$~mag; down to G-stars at distances of 0.3-2~kpc, excluding stars in clusters). The secondary mass-function is generally consistent with a Kroupa initial stellar function; if extrapolated to lower mass companion stars we then might expect a wide-binary fraction of $sim 27pm5%$. In addition we use these data as a verification sample to test the existence of ultra-wide binaries among neutron stars (NSs) and black holes (BHs). We propose that the discovery of such binary can provide unique constraints on the weakest natal kicks possible for NSs/BHs. If a compact object is formed in an ultra-wide binary and receives a very-low natal kick, such a binary should survive as a common proper motion pair. We therefore use Gaia data to search for ultra-wide companions to pulsars (normal and millisecond ones) and X-ray binaries. We find no reliable pairs. Future data could potentially provide stringent constraints through this method.