Macroscopic manifestations of quantum anomalies in hydrodynamics (Mini-review)
P. G. Mitkin+, V. I. Zakharov+* 1)
+Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics, National Research Centre Kurchatov Institute, 117218 Moscow, Russia
*Pacific Quantum Center, Far Eastern Federal University, 690950 Vladivostok, Russia
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.