Chiral anomaly in noncentrosymmetric systems induced by spin-orbit coupling

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the chiral anomaly can occur in noncentrosymmetric systems due to spin-orbit coupling, affecting both charge and spin transport properties without requiring Weyl point pairs.

Contribution

It introduces a novel perspective that the chiral anomaly is a Fermi surface property induced by spin-orbit coupling, expanding its realization beyond Weyl semimetals.

Findings

Reproduces charge transport phenomena like negative magnetoresistance and planar Hall effect.

Predicts spin transport effects such as longitudinal spin currents and magnetic spin Hall effect.

Shows chiral anomaly can exist without Weyl point pairs in certain materials.

Abstract

The chiral anomaly may be realized in condensed matter systems with pairs of Weyl points. Here we show that the chiral anomaly can be realized in diverse noncentrosymmetric systems even without Weyl point pairs when spin-orbit coupling induces nonzero Berry curvature flux through Fermi surfaces. This motivates the condensed matter chiral anomaly to be interpreted as a Fermi surface property rather than a Weyl point property. The spin-orbit-coupling-induced anomaly reproduces the well-known charge transport properties of the chiral anomaly such as the negative longitudinal magnetoresistance and the planar Hall effect in Weyl semimetals. Since it is of spin-orbit coupling origin, it also affects the spin transport and gives rise to anomaly-induced longitudinal spin currents and the magnetic spin Hall effect, which are absent in conventional Weyl semimetals.