Abstract
Quantum fluctuations lead to an anomalous violation of parity symmetry in quantum electrodynamics for an even number of spatial dimensions. While the leading parity-odd electric current vanishes in vacuum, we uncover a non-cancellation of the anomaly for strong electric fields with distinct macroscopic signatures. We perform real-time lattice simulations with fully dynamical gauge fields and Wilson fermions in 2+1 space-time dimensions. In the static field limit, relevant at early times, we solve the problem analytically. Our results point out the fundamental role of quantum anomalies for strong-field phenomena, relevant for a wide range of condensed matter and high-energy applications, but also for the next generation of gauge theory quantum simulators.
Highlights
Quantum electrodynamics (QED) is well understood in vacuum and for weak electromagnetic fields
Quantum fluctuations lead to an anomalous violation of parity symmetry in quantum electrodynamics for an even number of spatial dimensions
Among the most intriguing phenomena that will become accessible is the anomalous violation of parity by quantum fluctuations in QED for an even number of spatial dimensions [27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38]
Summary
Quantum electrodynamics (QED) is well understood in vacuum and for weak electromagnetic fields. There is a cancellation of the anomalous electric current with a parity-odd contribution induced by the fermion mass such that the phenomenon is suppressed for weak fields in vacuum [27, 28]. The net parity-odd electric currents change the macroscopic gauge field evolution and lead to a dynamical rotation of the electric field vector To validate this discovery, we investigate the fundamental processes both analytically, as well as numerically using realtime lattice simulations with second-order improved Wilson fermions [39, 40]. In the strong-field regime jmy and jayn no longer cancel This phenomenon is illustrated, where we show the total parity-violating current over a wide range of field strengths. Total parity-odd current e|E0| 8π jmy + jayn (analytics) jmy + jayn (simulation)
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