Pulsar acceleration by asymmetric emission of sterile neutrinos

A convincing explanation for the observed pulsar large peculiar velocities is still missing. We argue that any viable particle physics solution would most likely involve the resonant production of a noninteracting neutrino nu (s) of mass m(nus) similar to 20-50 keV. We propose a model where anisotro pic magnetic field configurations strongly bias the resonant spin flavor pr ecession of tau antineutrinos into nu (s). For internal magnetic fields B-i nt greater than or similar to 10(15) G, a <(<nu>)over bar>(tau)-nu (s) tran sition magnetic moment of the order of 10(-12) Bohr magnetons is required. The asymmetric emission of nu (s) from the core can produce sizable natal k icks and account for recoil velocities of several hundred kilometers per se cond.