Chiral anomaly and local polarization effect from quantum kinetic approach

TL;DR

A power expansion scheme is set up to determine the Wigner function that satisfies the quantum kinetic equation for spin-1/2 charged fermions in a background electromagnetic field and vector and axial-vector current induced by magnetic field and vorticity are obtained simultaneously.

Abstract

A power expansion scheme is set up to determine the Wigner function that satisfies the quantum kinetic equation for spin-1/2 charged fermions in a background electromagnetic field. Vector and axial-vector current induced by magnetic field and vorticity are obtained simultaneously from the Wigner function. The chiral magnetic and vortical effect and chiral anomaly are shown as natural consequences of the quantum kinetic equation. The axial-vector current induced by vorticity is argued to lead to a local polarization effect along the vorticity direction in heavy-ion collisions.

Figures (1)

• Figure 1: (Color online) The axial current induced by vorticity leads to the local polarization effect. The momentum (spin) direction is in the red-dashed (blue-solid) arrow.