Observational Consequences of Topological Currents in Neutron Stars

Abstract

We argue that topological vector currents may be the source of many phenomena in neutron stars: kicks, jets, toroidal fields and magnetic helicity. Topological vector currents exist because of the P-symmetry violation of the weak interaction. Kicks and helicity are both objects that transform as pseudovectors and thus require P-symmetry violation to manifest themselves. This symmetry argument is supported numerically; topological currents provide transfer enough momentum to describe even the largest of kicks and can generate large toroidal fields that create helicity. An observational signature of currents is a faint left circular polarization in the X-rays in the wake of the neutron star that may require high precision polarimetry to see.

arXiv comment4 pages, prepared for the proceedings of the the 24th Lake Louise Winter Institute