Neutrino emission due to electron bremsstrahlung in superfluid neutron-star cores

Abstract

We study neutrino energy emission rates (emissivities) due to electron bremsstrahlung produced by $ee$ and $ep$ collisions in the superfluid neutron star cores. The neutrino emission due to $ee$ collisions is shown to be the dominant neutrino reaction at not too high temperatures ($T \la 10^8$ K) in dense matter if all other neutrino reactions involving nucleons are strongly suppressed by neutron and proton superfluidity. Simple practical expressions for the $ee$ and $ep$ neutrino emissivities are obtained. The efficiency of various neutrino reactions in the superfluid neutron-star cores is discussed for the cases of standard neutrino energy losses and the losses enhanced by the direct Urca process.