Real-time chiral dynamics from a digital quantum simulation

Jan 2, 2020
10 pages
Published in:
  • Phys.Rev.Res. 2 (2020) 2, 023342
  • Published: Jun 17, 2020
e-Print:
Report number:
  • RBRC-1321

Citations per year

2019202120232025202505101520
Abstract: (APS)
The chiral magnetic effect in a strong magnetic field can be described using the chiral anomaly in the (1+1)-dimensional massive Schwinger model with a time-dependent θ term. We perform a digital quantum simulation of the model at finite θ angle and vanishing gauge coupling using an IBM-Q digital quantum simulator, and observe the corresponding vector current induced in a system of relativistic fermions by a global chiral quench—a sudden change in the chiral chemical potential or θ angle. At finite fermion mass, there appears an additional contribution to this current that stems from the nonanomalous relaxation of chirality. Our results are relevant for the real-time dynamics of chiral magnetic effect in heavy ion collisions and in chiral materials, as well as for modeling high-energy processes at hadron colliders.
Note:
  • 13 pages, 6 figures; version accepted for Physical Review Research
  • magnetic field: chiral
  • effect: magnetic
  • anomaly: chiral
  • Schwinger model: massive
  • fermion: relativistic
  • potential: chemical
  • current: induced
  • current: vector
  • fermion: mass
  • heavy ion: scattering