Comments About the Electromagnetic Field in Heavy-Ion Collisions

TL;DR

This paper analyzes electromagnetic fields in heavy-ion collisions, focusing on magnetic field lifetime and its impact on observables, concluding that matter does not significantly alter the magnetic field generated by spectators.

Contribution

It provides a quantitative assessment of magnetic field lifetime considering conductivities and clarifies that matter does not modify the spectator-generated magnetic field.

Findings

Magnetic field lifetime is not significantly affected by matter.

Spectator-generated magnetic fields remain largely unchanged.

Implications for interpreting heavy-ion collision observables.

Abstract

In this short article we discuss the properties of electromagnetic fields in heavy-ion collisions and consequences for observables. We address quantitatively the issue of the magnetic field lifetime in a collision including the electric and chiral magnetic conductivities. We show that for reasonable parameters, the magnetic field created by spectators in a collision is not modified by the presence of matter. Based on this, we draw definite conclusions on observed effects in heavy-ion collisions.