Implications of -violating transitions in hot quark matter on heavy-ion collisions

Abstract

Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) predicts that topological charge changing transitions will take place in hot quark matter. Such transitions induce - and -violating effects. We will show that in the presence of a magnetic field these transitions can separate quarks according to their electric charge along the direction of the magnetic field. This is the so-called chiral magnetic effect. We will argue that it might be possible to observe the chiral magnetic effect in heavy-ion collisions.