Constraints on Pion Superradiance and SF-QED Neutrino Production in Relativistic Magnetar Magnetospheres

We examine whether collective pion superradiance and strong-field QED (SF-QED) photon-to-neutrino conversion could produce multi-PeV neutrinos in the equatorial current sheet of a rapidly rotating magnetar (Ω ≥ 700 Hz). The proposed chain runs from centrifugally confined baryonic plasma, through proton–proton production of neutral pions, stimulated π⁰→γγ emission, and γ→νν̄ conversion near the light cylinder. Using an assumed sheet density of 3×10²⁰ cm⁻³ and Lorentz factor γ ~ 10⁶, we find a steady-state pion density of about 9×10¹⁵ cm⁻³ and a single-pass gain depth of about 10⁻⁴, bounded by ≲ 10⁻³ for any cross-section convention. The cooperative growth rate lies at least 10⁷ below the pion decay rate, and the gain depth approaches unity only in a corner case requiring the maximum confinable proton density at the stellar surface. Surviving magnetic pair production requires photon–field alignment that, with the Standard Model γ→νν̄ rate, gives a conversion probability ≲ 10⁻²² for 1 PeV photons. Dipole spin-down at 700 Hz and 10¹⁴ G takes about 1.6 days, and crustal strain energy (about 2×10⁴⁵ erg) cannot by itself eject material beyond the corotation radius. We conclude that collective pion superradiance is not viable under the parameters examined and that SF-QED conversion is strongly suppressed. The paper is offered as a negative baseline for cooperative PeV neutrino production models. All estimates are order-of-magnitude.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-11-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24005150
Primary Topic
Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
Type
preprint
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preprint

Constraints on Pion Superradiance and SF-QED Neutrino Production in Relativistic Magnetar Magnetospheres

Tom Collinson
1 links
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
preprint

Constraints on Pion Superradiance and SF-QED Neutrino Production in Relativistic Magnetar Magnetospheres

Tom Collinson
preprint en

Abstract

We examine whether collective pion superradiance and strong-field QED (SF-QED) photon-to-neutrino conversion could produce multi-PeV neutrinos in the equatorial current sheet of a rapidly rotating magnetar (Ω ≥ 700 Hz). The proposed chain runs from centrifugally confined baryonic plasma, through proton–proton production of neutral pions, stimulated π⁰→γγ emission, and γ→νν̄ conversion near the light cylinder. Using an assumed sheet density of 3×10²⁰ cm⁻³ and Lorentz factor γ ~ 10⁶, we find a steady-state pion density of about 9×10¹⁵ cm⁻³ and a single-pass gain depth of about 10⁻⁴, bounded by ≲ 10⁻³ for any cross-section convention. The cooperative growth rate lies at least 10⁷ below the pion decay rate, and the gain depth approaches unity only in a corner case requiring the maximum confinable proton density at the stellar surface. Surviving magnetic pair production requires photon–field alignment that, with the Standard Model γ→νν̄ rate, gives a conversion probability ≲ 10⁻²² for 1 PeV photons. Dipole spin-down at 700 Hz and 10¹⁴ G takes about 1.6 days, and crustal strain energy (about 2×10⁴⁵ erg) cannot by itself eject material beyond the corotation radius. We conclude that collective pion superradiance is not viable under the parameters examined and that SF-QED conversion is strongly suppressed. The paper is offered as a negative baseline for cooperative PeV neutrino production models. All estimates are order-of-magnitude.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
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