Abstract
The neutrino events from SN1987A observed with the Kamiokande and 1MB experiments1,2 appear to show evidence of a period (P) of approximately 8.9 milliseconds. While the statistical significance of this period is marginal in each individual experiment, the two sets of data are compatible. Here we remark on a few consequences of interest should the periodicity be confirmed by observations. Interpreting the apparent period P≈ 8.9 ms as a rotation of a compact object would imply that: (1) neutrino emission is anisotropic; (2) the neutrino mass, averaged over all flavours observed is less than 0.2 eV/c2. We also note that P = 8.9 ms is a reasonable period for very young pulsars.
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Harwit, M., Biermann, P., Meyer, H. et al. Regularly pulsed neutrinos from supernova SN1987A?. Nature 328, 503–504 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/328503a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/328503a0
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