Real-time dynamics of the Chiral Magnetic Effect

TL;DR

This paper investigates the real-time behavior of the chiral magnetic effect in quantum chromodynamics, focusing on how topological charge and magnetic fields induce electromagnetic currents, relevant to early heavy-ion collision stages.

Contribution

It provides a computation of the chiral magnetic effect in the presence of a topologically charged color flux tube with an external magnetic field.

Findings

Demonstrates the generation of electromagnetic current along magnetic fields in topologically nontrivial configurations.

Suggests relevance of the model to early-stage relativistic heavy-ion collisions.

Provides a theoretical framework for understanding the chiral magnetic effect in QCD.

Abstract

In quantum chromodynamics, a gauge field configuration with nonzero topological charge generates a difference between the number of left- and right-handed quarks. When a (electromagnetic) magnetic field is added to this configuration, an electromagnetic current is induced along the magnetic field; this is called the chiral magnetic effect. We compute this current in the presence of a color flux tube possessing topological charge, with a magnetic field applied perpendicular to it. We argue that this situation is realized at the early stage of relativistic heavy-ion collisions.