Pulsar acceleration by asymmetric emission of sterile neutrinos

A convincing explanation for the observed pulsar large peculiar velocities is still missing. We argue that any viable particle physics solution would most likely involve the resonant production of a non-interacting neutrino $\nu_s$ of mass $m_{\nu_s}\sim$ 20--50 keV. We propose a model where anisotropic magnetic field configurations strongly bias the resonant spin flavour precession of tau antineutrinos into $\nu_s$. The asymmetric emission of $\nu_s$ from the core can produce sizeable natal kicks and account for recoil velocities of several hundred kilometers per second.