Macroscopic Manifestations of Quantum Anomalies in Hydrodynamics (Brief Review)

Abstract

We present a mini-review of (some aspects of the) theory of so called chiral effects in hydrodynamic approximation. One considers fluids whose constituents are massless fermions. The underlying field theory incorporates quantum anomalies which are loop effects in gauge-field backgrounds not consistent with the chiral symmetry of the classical lagrangian. One of central theoretical claims is that the quantum anomalies trigger macroscopic fluid motions of calculable amplitude. An example is provided by the chiral vortical effect which is a helical motion of the fluid transporting the chiral charge along the axis of a vortex.