Physics – High Energy Physics – High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Scientific paper
2007-11-06
Nucl.Phys.A803:227-253,2008
Physics
High Energy Physics
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
33 pages, 7 figures
Scientific paper
10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2008.02.298
Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) contains field configurations which can be characterized by a topological invariant, the winding number Q_w. Configurations with nonzero Q_w break the charge-parity CP symmetry of QCD. We consider a novel mechanism by which these configurations can separate charge in the presence of a background magnetic field - the "Chiral Magnetic Effect". We argue that sufficiently large magnetic fields are created in heavy ion collisions so that the Chiral Magnetic Effect causes preferential emission of charged particles along the direction of angular momentum. Since separation of charge is CP-odd, any observation of the Chiral Magnetic Effect could provide a clear demonstration of the topological nature of the QCD vacuum. We give an estimate of the effect and conclude that it might be observed experimentally.
Kharzeev Dmitri E.
McLerran Larry D.
Warringa Harmen J.
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