Effect of a magnetic field on the electron neutrino sphere in pulsars - art. no. 101301

We study the neutrino interaction rates through charged as well as neutral current weak interactions in hot, dense magnetized matter. At densities nea r the neutrino sphere, matter in the presence of intense magnetic field is polarized, and electrons and protons typically occupy the lowest Landau lev el. The weak interaction rates in such a situation are severely modified le ading to a sizable change in neutrino opacity and consequently on the locat ion of the neutrino sphere which also gets distorted. This has implications for pulsar velocity explanations. [S0556-2821(99)50108-2].