Quantum kinetic theory of the chiral anomaly
Abstract
We present a general quantum kinetic theory of low-field magnetotransport in weakly disordered crystals that accounts fully for the interplay between electric-field-induced interband coherence, Bloch-state scattering, and an external magnetic field. The quantum kinetic equation we derive for the Bloch-state density matrix naturally incorporates the momentum-space Berry phase effects whose influence on Bloch-state wave-packet dynamics is normally incorporated into transport theory in an ad hoc manner. The Berry phase correction to the momentum-space density of states in the presence of an external magnetic field implied by semiclassical wave-packet dynamics is captured by our theory as an intrinsic density-matrix response to a magnetic field. We propose a simple and general procedure for expanding the linear response of the Bloch-state density matrix to an electric field in powers of magnetic field. As an illustration, we apply our theory to magnetotransport in Weyl semimetals. Furthermore we show that the chiral anomaly (positive magnetoconductivity quadratic in magnetic field) that appears when separate Fermi surface pockets surround distinct Weyl points survives only when intervalley scattering is very weak compared to intravalley scattering.
- Authors:
-
- The Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (United States)
- The Univ. of New South Wales, Sydney (Australia)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1511842
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1414504
- Grant/Contract Number:
- FG02-02ER45958; FG03-02ER45958; FG02-ER45958
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Physical Review B
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 96; Journal Issue: 23; Journal ID: ISSN 2469-9950
- Publisher:
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS
Citation Formats
Sekine, Akihiko, Culcer, Dimitrie, and MacDonald, Allan H. Quantum kinetic theory of the chiral anomaly. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.1103/physrevb.96.235134.
Sekine, Akihiko, Culcer, Dimitrie, & MacDonald, Allan H. Quantum kinetic theory of the chiral anomaly. United States. doi:10.1103/physrevb.96.235134.
Sekine, Akihiko, Culcer, Dimitrie, and MacDonald, Allan H. Thu .
"Quantum kinetic theory of the chiral anomaly". United States. doi:10.1103/physrevb.96.235134. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1511842.
@article{osti_1511842,
title = {Quantum kinetic theory of the chiral anomaly},
author = {Sekine, Akihiko and Culcer, Dimitrie and MacDonald, Allan H.},
abstractNote = {We present a general quantum kinetic theory of low-field magnetotransport in weakly disordered crystals that accounts fully for the interplay between electric-field-induced interband coherence, Bloch-state scattering, and an external magnetic field. The quantum kinetic equation we derive for the Bloch-state density matrix naturally incorporates the momentum-space Berry phase effects whose influence on Bloch-state wave-packet dynamics is normally incorporated into transport theory in an ad hoc manner. The Berry phase correction to the momentum-space density of states in the presence of an external magnetic field implied by semiclassical wave-packet dynamics is captured by our theory as an intrinsic density-matrix response to a magnetic field. We propose a simple and general procedure for expanding the linear response of the Bloch-state density matrix to an electric field in powers of magnetic field. As an illustration, we apply our theory to magnetotransport in Weyl semimetals. Furthermore we show that the chiral anomaly (positive magnetoconductivity quadratic in magnetic field) that appears when separate Fermi surface pockets surround distinct Weyl points survives only when intervalley scattering is very weak compared to intravalley scattering.},
doi = {10.1103/physrevb.96.235134},
journal = {Physical Review B},
number = 23,
volume = 96,
place = {United States},
year = {2017},
month = {12}
}
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