Spatial modulation and topological current in holographic QCD matter

TL;DR

This paper explores how axial-vector interactions and topological currents influence spatial modulation in quark matter under magnetic fields, revealing that stronger magnetic fields suppress spatially modulated phases contrary to naive expectations.

Contribution

It demonstrates, using the Sakai-Sugimoto model, that topological axial currents reduce the favorability of spatially modulated phases in magnetic fields.

Findings

Stronger magnetic fields suppress spatially modulated phases.

Topological axial currents are enhanced by magnetic fields and baryon density.

The spatial modulation is less favored in the presence of topological currents.

Abstract

We investigate an impact of the axial-vector interaction on spatial modulation of quark matter. A magnetic field coupled with baryon density leads to a topological axial current, so that the effect of the axial-vector interaction is crucially enhanced then. Using the Sakai-Sugimoto model we have found that, contrary to a naive expectation, the spatially modulated phase is less favored for a stronger magnetic field, which is realized by the presence of topological current.