Neutrino opacity in magnetized hot and dense nuclear matter

Abstract

We study the neutrino interaction rates in hot matter at high densities in the presence of a uniform magnetic field. The neutrino cross sections involving both the charged current absorption and neutral current scattering reactions on baryons and leptons have been considered. We have in particular considered the interesting case when the magnetic field is strong enough to completely polarize the protons and electrons in supernovae and neutron stars. The opacity in such a situation is considerably modified and the cross section develops anisotropy. This has implications for phenomena invoked in the literature to explain the observed pulsar kicks.