Neutrino energy loss in stellar interiors

Abstract

The energy loss rates due to pair, photo-, and plasma neutrino processes are calculated in the framework of the Weinberg-Salam theory for wide ranges of densities and temperatures. Accurate analytic fitting formulae are presented to facilitate the application of the result. It is found that the present calculation gives a neutrino energy loss rate which is substantially lower than that of Beaudet, Petrosian, and Salpeter. The reduction factor α is in the range 0.35 ⪉ α ⪉ 0.88 depending on the neutrino masses, density, and temperature.