Pulsar velocities due to a 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 a 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.