On the path integral approach to quantum anomalies in interacting models

TL;DR

This paper explores how interactions influence the chiral anomaly and related transport phenomena in topological semimetals using a path integral approach, revealing modifications to anomalous responses and identifying nonperturbative excitations.

Contribution

It introduces a path integral framework to analyze the impact of interactions on quantum anomalies in semimetals, extending understanding from one to three dimensions.

Findings

Interactions renormalize excitations and transport properties.

Anomalous responses like chiral magnetic effects are modified by interactions.

Identification of nonperturbative massive excitations in Weyl semimetals.

Abstract

The prediction and subsequent discovery of topological semimetal phases of matter in solid state systems has instigated a surge of activity investigating the exotic properties of these unusual materials. Amongst these are transport signatures which can be attributed to the chiral anomaly; the breaking of classical chiral symmetry in a quantum theory. This remarkable quantum phenomenon, first discovered in the context of particle physics has now found new life in condensed matter physics, connecting topological quantum matter and band theory with effective field theoretic models. In this paper we investigate the interplay between interactions and the chiral anomaly in field theories inspired by semimetals using Fujikawa's path integral method. Starting from models in one spatial dimension we discuss how the presence of interactions can affect the consequences of the chiral anomaly leading to renormalization of excitations and their transport properties. This is then generalised to the three dimensional case where we show that the anomalous response of the system, namely the chiral magnetic and quantum hall effects, are modified by the presence of interactions. These properties are investigated further through the identification of anomalous modes which exist within interacting Weyl semimetals. These massive excitations are nonperturbative in nature and are a direct consequence of the chiral anomaly. The effects of interactions on mixed axial-gravitational anomalies are then investigated and the conditions required for interactions effects to be observed are discussed.