Axial Charge Research Articles

Polarization in heavy-ion collisions: magnetic field and vorticity

The polarization of hyperons due to axial chiral vortical effect is discussed. The effect is proportional to (strange) chemical potential and is pronounced at lower energies, contrary to that of magnetic field. The polarization of antihyperons has the same sign and larger magnitude. The emergence of vortical structures is observed in kinetic QGSM models. The hydrodynamical helicity separation receives the contribution of longitudinal velocity and vorticity implying the quadrupole structure of the latter. The transition from the quark vortical effects to baryons in confined phase may be achieved by exploring the axial charge. At the hadronic level the polarization corresponds to the cores of quantized vortices in pionic superfluid. The chiral vortical effects may be also studied in the frmework of Wigner function establishing the relation to the thermodynamical approach to polarization.

On the optimal form of nano-rods

The Euler–Bernoulli model of elastic nano-rods is considered in the framework of nonlocal elasticity. Existence and uniqueness theorems are proved, the structure of the optimal form under an axial charge is studied. A method of numerical solution is indicated.

First Simultaneous Extraction of Spin-Dependent Parton Distributions and Fragmentation Functions from a Global QCD Analysis.

We perform the first global QCD analysis of polarized inclusive and semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering and single-inclusive e^{+}e^{-} annihilation data, simultaneously fitting the parton distribution and fragmentation functions using the iterative MonteCarlo method. Without imposing SU(3) symmetry relations, we find the strange polarization to be very small, consistent with zero for both inclusive and semi-inclusive data, which provides a resolution to the strange quark polarization puzzle. The combined analysis also allows the direct extraction from data of the isovector and octet axial charges, and is consistent with a small SU(2) flavor asymmetry in the polarized sea.

Laminar and Turbulent Dynamos in Chiral Magnetohydrodynamics. I. Theory

Abstract The magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) description of plasmas with relativistic particles necessarily includes an additional new field, the chiral chemical potential associated with the axial charge (i.e., the number difference between right- and left-handed relativistic fermions). This chiral chemical potential gives rise to a contribution to the electric current density of the plasma (chiral magnetic effect). We present a self-consistent treatment of the chiral MHD equations, which include the back-reaction of the magnetic field on a chiral chemical potential and its interaction with the plasma velocity field. A number of novel phenomena are exhibited. First, we show that the chiral magnetic effect decreases the frequency of the Alfvén wave for incompressible flows, increases the frequencies of the Alfvén wave and of the fast magnetosonic wave for compressible flows, and decreases the frequency of the slow magnetosonic wave. Second, we show that, in addition to the well-known laminar chiral dynamo effect, which is not related to fluid motions, there is a dynamo caused by the joint action of velocity shear and chiral magnetic effect. In the presence of turbulence with vanishing mean kinetic helicity, the derived mean-field chiral MHD equations describe turbulent large-scale dynamos caused by the chiral alpha effect, which is dominant for large fluid and magnetic Reynolds numbers. The chiral alpha effect is due to an interaction of the chiral magnetic effect and fluctuations of the small-scale current produced by tangling magnetic fluctuations (which are generated by tangling of the large-scale magnetic field by sheared velocity fluctuations). These dynamo effects may have interesting consequences in the dynamics of the early universe, neutron stars, and the quark–gluon plasma.

On the effect of excited states in lattice calculations of the nucleon axial charge

Excited-state contamination is one of the dominant uncertainties in lattice calculations of the nucleon axial-charge, gA. Recently published results in leading-order chiral perturbation theory (ChPT) predict the excited-state contamination to be independent of the nucleon interpolator and positive [1–3]. We reproduce these results using ChPT in infinite volume along with the Lellouch–Lüscher formalism to relate finite- and infinite-volume matrix elements. We then go beyond ChPT by using the experimentally determined Nπ scattering phase to estimate the correction due to the final-state interactions, both on the discrete energy levels and on the Lellouch–Lüscher factors. We find that, while individual Lellouch–Lüscher factors differ significantly, the overall effect on the excited-state contamination is small. However, empirical results from numerical lattice calculations show negative contamination (downward curvature), indicating that present-day calculations are not in the regime where the leading-order ChPT predictions apply. We show that, under plausible assumptions, one can reproduce the behavior of lattice correlators by postulating a sign change in the infinite-volume N→Nπ axial-vector transition amplitude roughly in the region of the Roper resonance. Improved data, either from experiment or from a lattice QCD calculation, would allow for a direct test of this postulate.

Lambda beta-decay in-medium

Under the working hypothesis that the structure of a bound hadron is modified by its interactions with other hadrons, one may expect to see changes in carefully chosen observables. In the light of a recent proposal to measure the axial charge in the strangeness changing beta-decay of a bound Lambda hyperon, we examine the size of the change expected within the quark–meson coupling model. It is predicted to be significant.

Lattice calculation of nucleon isovector axial charge with improved currents

We employ dimension-4 operators to improve the local vector and axial-vector currents and calculate the nucleon isovector axial coupling $g^3_A$ with overlap valence on $2+1$-flavor Domain Wall Fermion sea. Using the equality of $g^3_A$ from the spatial and temporal components of the axial-vector current as a normalization condition, we find that $g_A^3$ is increased by a few percent towards the experimental value. The excited-state contamination has been taken into account with three time separations between the source and sink. The improved axial charges $g_A^{3}(24I)=1.22(4)$ and $g_A^{3}(32I)=1.21(3)$ are obtained on a $24^3\times 64$ lattice at pion mass of 330 MeV and a $32^3\times 64$ lattice at pion mass 300 MeV are increased by $3.4\%$ and $1.7\%$ from their unimproved values, respectively. We have also used clover fermion on the same DWF configurations and find the same behavior for the local axial charge as that of the overlap fermion.

Comparisons of magnetic charge and axial charge meson cloud distributions in the PCQM

The meson cloud distributions in r-space are extracted from the nucleon electromagnetic and axial form factors which are derived in the perturbative chiral quark model. The theoretical results indicate that the magnetic charge and axial charge distributions of the three-quark core have the similar distributions in r-space, the magnetic charge distributions of the meson cloud and three-quark core are more or less in the same region and peak at distances of around 0.4 fm, which is in good agreement with the finding of works in the framework of chiral perturbation theory, but the axial charge meson cloud distributes mainly inside the three-quark core.

Isotensor Axial Polarizability and Lattice QCD Input for Nuclear Double-β Decay Phenomenology.

The potential importance of short-distance nuclear effects in double-β decay is assessed using a lattice QCD calculation of the nn→pp transition and effective field theory methods. At the unphysical quark masses used in the numerical computation, these effects, encoded in the isotensor axial polarizability, are found to be of similar magnitude to the nuclear modification of the single axial current, which phenomenologically is the quenching of the axial charge used in nuclear many-body calculations. This finding suggests that nuclear models for neutrinoful and neutrinoless double-β decays should incorporate this previously neglected contribution if they are to provide reliable guidance for next-generation neutrinoless double-β decay searches. The prospects of constraining the isotensor axial polarizabilities of nuclei using lattice QCD input into nuclear many-body calculations are discussed.

Anomalous transport and generalized axial charge

In this paper we continue studying the modification of the axial charge in chiral media by macroscopic helicities. Recently it was shown that magnetic reconnections result in a persistent current of zero mode along flux tubes. Here we argue that in general a change in the helical part of the generalized axial charge results in the same phenomenon. Thus one may say that there is a novel realization of chiral effects requiring no initial chiral asymmetry. The transfer of flow helicity to zero modes is analyzed in a toy model based on a vortex reconnection in a chiral superfluid. Then, we discuss the balance between the two competing processes effect of reconnections and the chiral instability on the example of magnetic helicity. We argue that in the general case there is a possibility for the distribution of the axial charge between the magnetic and fermionic forms at the end of the instability.

On the Feynman-Hellmann theorem in quantum field theory and the calculation of matrix elements

The Feynman-Hellmann theorem can be derived from the long Euclidean-time limit of correlation functions determined with functional derivatives of the partition function. Using this insight, we fully develop an improved method for computing matrix elements of external currents utilizing only two-point correlation functions. Our method applies to matrix elements of any external bilinear current, including nonzero momentum transfer, flavor-changing, and two or more current insertion matrix elements. The ability to identify and control all the systematic uncertainties in the analysis of the correlation functions stems from the unique time dependence of the ground-state matrix elements and the fact that all excited states and contact terms are Euclidean-time dependent. We demonstrate the utility of our method with a calculation of the nucleon axial charge using gradient-flowed domain-wall valence quarks on the $N_f=2+1+1$ MILC highly improved staggered quark ensemble with lattice spacing and pion mass of approximately 0.15 fm and 310 MeV respectively. We show full control over excited-state systematics with the new method and obtain a value of $g_A = 1.213(26)$ with a quark-mass-dependent renormalization coefficient.

Chiral perturbation theory and nucleon–pion-state contaminations in lattice QCD

Multiparticle states with additional pions are expected to be a non-negligible source of excited-state contamination in lattice simulations at the physical point. It is shown that baryon chiral perturbation theory can be employed to calculate the contamination due to two-particle nucleon–pion-states in various nucleon observables. Leading order results are presented for the nucleon axial, tensor and scalar charge and three Mellin moments of parton distribution functions (quark momentum fraction, helicity and transversity moment). Taking into account phenomenological results for the charges and moments the impact of the nucleon–pion-states on lattice estimates for these observables can be estimated. The nucleon–pion-state contribution results in an overestimation of all charges and moments obtained with the plateau method. The overestimation is at the 5–10% level for source-sink separations of about 2 fm. The source-sink separations accessible in contemporary lattice simulations are found to be too small for chiral perturbation theory to be directly applicable.

Second-order dissipative hydrodynamics for plasma with chiral asymmetry and vorticity

By making use of the chiral kinetic theory in the relaxation-time approximation, we derive an Israel-Stewart type formulation of the hydrodynamic equations for a chiral relativistic plasma made of neutral particles (e.g., neutrinos). The effects of chiral asymmetry are captured by including an additional continuity equation for the axial charge, as well as the leading-order quantum corrections due to the spin of particles. In a formulation of the chiral kinetic theory used, we introduce a symmetric form of the energy-momentum tensor that is suitable for the description of a weakly nonuniform chiral plasma. By construction, the energy and momentum are conserved to the same leading order in the Planck constant as the kinetic equation itself. By making use of such a chiral kinetic theory and the Chapman-Enskog approach, we obtain a set of second-order dissipative hydrodynamic equations. The effects of the fluid vorticity and velocity fluctuations on the dispersion relations of chiral vortical waves are analyzed.

Longitudinal conductivity in strong magnetic field in perturbative QCD: Complete leading order

We compute the longitudinal electrical conductivity in the presence of strong background magnetic field in complete leading order of perturbative QCD, based on the assumed hierarchy of scales $\alpha_s eB\ll (m_q^2,T^2)\ll eB$. We formulate an effective kinetic theory of lowest Landau level quarks with the leading order QCD collision term arising from 1-to-2 processes that become possible due to 1+1 dimensional Landau level kinematics. In small $m_q/T\ll 1$ regime, the longitudinal conductivity behaves as $\sigma_{zz}\sim e^2(eB)T/(\alpha_s m_q^2\log(m_q/T))$, where the quark mass dependence can be understood from the chiral anomaly with the axial charge relaxation provided by a finite quark mass $m_q$. We also present parametric estimates for the longitudinal and transverse "color conductivities" in the presence of strong magnetic field, by computing dominant damping rates for quarks and gluons that are responsible for color charge transportation. We observe that the longitudinal color conductivity is enhanced by strong magnetic field, which implies that the sphaleron transition rate in perturbative QCD is suppressed by strong magnetic field due to the enhanced Lenz's law in color field dynamics.

Chiral vortical and magnetic effects in the anomalous transport model

We extend our recent study of chiral magnetic effect in relativistic heavy ion collisions based on an anomalous transport model by including also the chiral vortical effect. We find that although vorticities in the chirally restored quark matter, which result from the large angular momentum in non-central collisions, can generate an axial charge dipole moment in the transverse plane of a heavy ion collision, it does not produce a difference in the eccentricities of negatively and positively charged particles. As a result, including the chiral vortical effect alone cannot lead to a splitting between the elliptic flows of negatively and positively charged particles. On the other hand, negatively and positively charged particles do develop a splitting in their elliptic flows if the effect due to a strong and long-lived magnetic field is also included. However, to have a positive slope in the dependence of the elliptic flow splitting on the charge asymmetry of the quark matter, as seen in experiments, requires the neglect of the effect of the Lorentz force. In this case, an elliptic flow splitting appears even at vanishing charge asymmetry.

Final COMPASS results on the deuteron spin-dependent structure function [formula omitted] and the Bjorken sum rule

Final results are presented from the inclusive measurement of deep-inelastic polarised-muon scattering on longitudinally polarised deuterons using a 6LiD target. The data were taken at 160 GeV beam energy and the results are shown for the kinematic range 1(GeV/c)2<Q2<100(GeV/c)2 in photon virtuality, 0.004<x<0.7 in the Bjorken scaling variable and W>4GeV/c2 in the mass of the hadronic final state. The deuteron double-spin asymmetry A1d and the deuteron longitudinal-spin structure function g1d are presented in bins of x and Q2. Towards lowest accessible values of x, g1d decreases and becomes consistent with zero within uncertainties. The presented final g1d values together with the recently published final g1p values of COMPASS are used to again evaluate the Bjorken sum rule and perform the QCD fit to the g1 world data at next-to-leading order of the strong coupling constant. In both cases, changes in central values of the resulting numbers are well within statistical uncertainties. The flavour-singlet axial charge a0, which is identified in the MS‾ renormalisation scheme with the total contribution of quark helicities to the nucleon spin, is extracted at next-to-leading order accuracy from only the COMPASS deuteron data: a0(Q2=3(GeV/c)2)=0.32±0.02stat±0.04syst±0.05evol. Together with the recent results on the proton spin structure function g1p, the results on g1d constitute the COMPASS legacy on the measurements of g1 through inclusive spin-dependent deep inelastic scattering.

Chiral anomaly in Dirac semimetals due to dislocations

The dislocation in Dirac semimetal carries an emergent magnetic flux parallel to the dislocation axis. We show that due to the emergent magnetic field the dislocation accommodates a single fermion massless mode of the corresponding low-energy one-particle Hamiltonian. The mode is propagating along the dislocation with its spin directed parallel to the dislocation axis. In agreement with the chiral anomaly observed in Dirac semimetals, an external electric field results in the spectral flow of the one-particle Hamiltonian, in pumping of the fermionic quasiparticles out from the vacuum, and in creating a nonzero axial (chiral) charge in the vicinity of the dislocation.

Nucleon Structure and the Neutron Electric Dipole Moment from Twisted Mass Lattice QCD

Recent results on nucleon structure using twisted mass lattice QCD simulated with a quark mass yielding the physical pion mass are presented. Namely, the nucleon axial charges and moments of parton distribution functions are discussed as well as the implication of these results on the decomposition of the nucleon spin. Results on the electromagnetic structure are also presented, including a recent study of the neutron Electric Dipole Moment using simulations with pion mass of 370 MeV.

Nonequilibrium study of the chiral magnetic effect from real-time simulations with dynamical fermions

We present a real-time lattice approach to study the non-equilibrium dynamics of vector and axial charges in $SU(N) \times U(1)$ gauge theories. Based on a classical description of the non-Abelian and Abelian gauge fields, we include dynamical fermions and develop operator definitions for (improved) Wilson and overlap fermions that allow us to study real-time manifestations of the axial anomaly from first principles. We present a first application of this approach to anomalous transport phenomena such as the Chiral Magnetic Effect (CME) and Chiral Separation Effect (CSE) by studying the dynamics of fermions during and after a $SU(N)$ sphaleron transition in the presence of a $U(1)$ magnetic field. We investigate the fermion mass and magnetic field dependence of the suggested signatures of the CME and CSE and point out some important aspects which need to be accounted for in the macroscopic description of anomalous transport phenomena.

Nuclear axial current operators to fourth order in chiral effective field theory

We present the complete derivation of the nuclear axial charge and current operators as well as the pseudoscalar operators to fourth order in the chiral expansion relative to the dominant one-body contribution using the method of unitary transformation. We demonstrate that the unitary ambiguity in the resulting operators can be eliminated by the requirement of renormalizability and by matching of the pion-pole contributions to the nuclear forces. We give expressions for the renormalized single-, two- and three-nucleon contributions to the charge and current operators and pseudoscalar operators including the relevant relativistic corrections. We also verify explicitly the validity of the continuity equation.