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Title: Self-similar inverse cascade of magnetic helicity driven by the chiral anomaly

Abstract

For systems with charged chiral fermions, the imbalance of chirality in the presence of magnetic field generates an electric current—this is the chiral magnetic effect (CME). We study the dynamical real-time evolution of electromagnetic fields coupled by the anomaly to the chiral charge density and the CME current by solving the Maxwell-Chern-Simons equations. We find that the CME induces the inverse cascade of magnetic helicity toward the large distances, and that at late times this cascade becomes self-similar, with universal exponents. We also find that in terms of gauge field topology the inverse cascade represents the transition from linked electric and magnetic fields (Hopfions) to the knotted configuration of magnetic field (Chandrasekhar-Kendall states). The magnetic reconnections are accompanied by the pulses of the CME current directed along the magnetic field lines. In conclusion, we devise an experimental signature of these phenomena in heavy ion collisions, and speculate about implications for condensed matter systems.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Stony Brook Univ., Stony Brook, NY (United States)
  2. Stony Brook Univ., Stony Brook, NY (United States); Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
  3. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)
OSTI Identifier:
1295203
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1234015
Report Number(s):
BNL-112211-2016-JA
Journal ID: ISSN 1550-7998; R&D Project: KB0301020; KB0301020
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC00112704; FG-88ER40388; SC0012704
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Physical Review. D, Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 92; Journal Issue: 12; Journal ID: ISSN 1550-7998
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS

Citation Formats

Hirono, Yuji, Kharzeev, Dmitri E., and Yin, Yi. Self-similar inverse cascade of magnetic helicity driven by the chiral anomaly. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.92.125031.
Hirono, Yuji, Kharzeev, Dmitri E., & Yin, Yi. Self-similar inverse cascade of magnetic helicity driven by the chiral anomaly. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.92.125031
Hirono, Yuji, Kharzeev, Dmitri E., and Yin, Yi. 2015. "Self-similar inverse cascade of magnetic helicity driven by the chiral anomaly". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.92.125031. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1295203.
@article{osti_1295203,
title = {Self-similar inverse cascade of magnetic helicity driven by the chiral anomaly},
author = {Hirono, Yuji and Kharzeev, Dmitri E. and Yin, Yi},
abstractNote = {For systems with charged chiral fermions, the imbalance of chirality in the presence of magnetic field generates an electric current—this is the chiral magnetic effect (CME). We study the dynamical real-time evolution of electromagnetic fields coupled by the anomaly to the chiral charge density and the CME current by solving the Maxwell-Chern-Simons equations. We find that the CME induces the inverse cascade of magnetic helicity toward the large distances, and that at late times this cascade becomes self-similar, with universal exponents. We also find that in terms of gauge field topology the inverse cascade represents the transition from linked electric and magnetic fields (Hopfions) to the knotted configuration of magnetic field (Chandrasekhar-Kendall states). The magnetic reconnections are accompanied by the pulses of the CME current directed along the magnetic field lines. In conclusion, we devise an experimental signature of these phenomena in heavy ion collisions, and speculate about implications for condensed matter systems.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevD.92.125031},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1295203}, journal = {Physical Review. D, Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology},
issn = {1550-7998},
number = 12,
volume = 92,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Dec 28 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Mon Dec 28 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}

Journal Article:

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Cited by: 79 works
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Works referencing / citing this record:

Status of the chiral magnetic effect and collisions of isobars
journal, June 2017


Magnetic fields in heavy ion collisions: flow and charge transport
journal, March 2020


Baryogenesis from axion inflation
text, January 2019


Laminar and Turbulent Dynamos in Chiral Magnetohydrodynamics. I. Theory
journal, September 2017


Laminar and Turbulent Dynamos in Chiral Magnetohydrodynamics. II. Simulations
journal, May 2018


Baryogenesis from axion inflation
text, January 2019


Baryogenesis from axion inflation
text, January 2019


Magnetic fields in heavy ion collisions: flow and charge transport
text, January 2020


Laminar and turbulent dynamos in chiral magnetohydrodynamics-I: Theory
text, January 2017


Dynamics of vortices in chiral media: the chiral propulsion effect
text, January 2018


Chiral magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in core-collapse supernovae
text, January 2018


Magnetic fields in heavy ion collisions: flow and charge transport
text, January 2019