The origin of pulsar velocities

We have recently proposed an explanation for the birth velocities of pulsars as resulting from asymmetries due to neutrino oscillations in the cooling protoneutron star. A specific prediction of this mechanism is that the correlation of velocities and magnetic fields should be stronger for slowly rotating neutron stars and weaker for those whose periods are less than 1 s. A remarkable agreement of this prediction with the data favors the oscillation mechanism over the alternative explanations for the proper motion of pulsars.