Charge separation induced by P-odd bubbles in QCD matter

TL;DR

This paper explores how P-odd bubbles in QCD matter can cause charge asymmetry in heavy ion collisions, linking topological charge and angular momentum to observable electric charge separation.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical framework connecting topological charge, angular momentum, and charge asymmetry, and relates these to experimental observations at RHIC and LHC.

Findings

Derived a formula relating charge asymmetry to angular momentum and topological charge.

Confirmed the potential for experimental detection of charge asymmetry at RHIC and LHC.

Discussed recent STAR results in context of theoretical predictions.

Abstract

We examine the recent suggestion that P- and CP-odd effects in QCD matter can induce electric charge asymmetry with respect to reaction plane in relativistic heavy ion collisions. General arguments are given which confirm that the angular momentum of QCD matter in the presence of non-zero topological charge should induce an electric field aligned along the axis of the angular momentum. A simple formula relating the magnitude of charge asymmetry to the angular momentum and topological charge is derived. The expected asymmetry is amenable to experimental observation at RHIC and LHC; we discuss the recent preliminary STAR result in light of our findings.