arXiv subjects

I. A. Shovkovy

Publications and source records attributed to I. A. Shovkovy.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Chiral anomalous processes in magnetospheres of pulsars and black holes

We propose that chirally asymmetric plasma can be produced in the gap regions of the magnetospheres of pulsars and black holes. We show that, in the case of supermassive black holes situated in active galactic nuclei, the chiral charge density and the chiral chemical potential are very small and unlikely to have any observable effects. In contrast, the chiral asymmetry produced in the magnetospheres of magnetars can be substantial. It can trigger the chiral plasma instability that, in turn, can lead to observable phenomena in magnetars. In particular, the instability should trigger circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation in a wide window of frequencies, spanning from radio to near-infrared. As such, the produced chiral charge has the potential to affect some features of fast radio bursts.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Entropy Wave Instability in Dirac and Weyl Semimetals

Hydrodynamic instabilities driven by a direct current are analyzed in 2D and 3D relativisticlike systems with the Dyakonov-Shur boundary conditions supplemented by a boundary condition for temperature. Besides the conventional Dyakonov-Shur instability for plasmons, we find an entropy wave instability in both 2D and 3D systems. The entropy wave instability is a manifestation of the relativisticlike nature of electron quasiparticles and a nontrivial role of the energy current in such systems. These two instabilities occur for the opposite directions of fluid flow. While the Dyakonov-Shur instability is characterized by the plasma frequency in 3D and the system size in 2D, the frequency of the entropy wave instability is tunable by the system size and the flow velocity.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Strong suppression of electron convection in Dirac and Weyl semimetals

It is shown that the convective instability in electron fluids in three- and two-dimensional (3D and 2D) Dirac and Weyl semimetals is strongly inhibited. The major obstacles for electron convection are the effects of the Coulomb forces and the momentum relaxation related to the interaction with impurities and phonons. The effect of the Coulomb forces is less pronounced in 2D materials, such as graphene. However, momentum relaxation still noticeably inhibits convection making it very difficult to achieve in practice.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Hydrodynamics of Fermi arcs: Bulk flow and surface collective modes

The hydrodynamic description of the Fermi arc surface states is proposed. In view of the strong suppression of scattering on impurities, the hydrodynamic regime for Fermi arc states should be, in principle, plausible. By using the kinetic theory, the Fermi arc hydrodynamics is derived and the corresponding effects on the bulk flow and surface collective modes are studied. For the bulk flow, the key effect of the proposed Fermi arc hydrodynamics is the modification of the corresponding boundary conditions. In a slab geometry, it is shown that, depending on the transfer rates between the surface and bulk, the hydrodynamic flow of the electron fluid inside the slab could be significantly altered and even enhanced near the surfaces. As to the spectrum of the surface collective modes, in agreement with earlier studies, it is found that the Fermi arcs allow for an additional gapless spectrum branch and a strong anisotropy of the surface plasmon dispersion relations in momentum space. The gapped modes are characterized by closed elliptic contours of constant frequency in momentum space.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Hydrodynamic modes in a magnetized chiral plasma with vorticity

By making use of a covariant formulation of the chiral kinetic theory in the relaxation-time approximation, we derive the first-order dissipative hydrodynamics equations for a charged chiral plasma with background electromagnetic fields. We identify the global equilibrium state for a rotating chiral plasma confined to a cylindrical region with realistic boundary conditions. Then, by using linearized hydrodynamic equations, supplemented by the Maxwell equations, we study hydrodynamic modes of magnetized rotating chiral plasma in the regimes of high temperature and high density. We find that, in both regimes, dynamical electromagnetism has profound effects on the spectrum of propagating modes. In particular, there are only the sound and Alfvén waves in the regime of high temperature, and the plasmons and helicons at high density. We also show that the chiral magnetic wave is universally overdamped because of high electrical conductivity in plasma that causes an efficient screening of charge fluctuations. The physics implications of the main results are briefly discussed.

hep-th↗

arXiv2018

Consistent hydrodynamic theory of chiral electrons in Weyl semimetals

The complete set of Maxwell's and hydrodynamic equations for the chiral electrons in Weyl semimetals is presented. The formulation of the Euler equation takes into account the explicit breaking of the Galilean invariance by the ion lattice. It is shown that the Chern-Simons (or Bardeen-Zumino) contributions should be added to the electric current and charge densities in Maxwell's equations that provide the information on the separation of Weyl nodes in energy and momentum. On the other hand, these topological contributions do not directly affect the Euler equation and the energy conservation relation for the electron fluid. By making use of the proposed consistent hydrodynamic framework, we show that the Chern-Simons contributions strongly modify the dispersion relations of collective modes in Weyl semimetals. This is reflected, in particular, in the existence of distinctive anomalous Hall waves, which are sustained by the local anomalous Hall currents.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Inter-node superconductivity in strained Weyl semimetals

The effects of a strain-induced pseudomagnetic field on inter-node spin-triplet superconducting states in Weyl semimetals are studied by using the quasiclassical Eilenberger formalism. It is found that the Cooper pairing with spins parallel to the pseudomagnetic field has the lowest energy among the spin-triplet states and its gap does not depend on the strength of the field. In such a state, both electric and chiral superconducting currents are absent. This is in contrast to the superconducting states with the spins of Cooper pairs normal to the field, which support a nonzero chiral current and are inhibited by the strain-induced pseudomagnetic field. The corresponding critical value of the field, which separates the normal and superconducting phases, is estimated.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

The overdamped chiral magnetic wave

About eight years ago it was predicted theoretically that a charged chiral plasma could support the propagation of the so-called chiral magnetic waves, which are driven by the anomalous chiral magnetic and chiral separation effects. This prompted intensive experimental efforts in search of signatures of such waves in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. In fact, several experiments have already reported a tentative detection of the predicted signal, albeit with a significant background contribution. Here, we critically reanalyze the theoretical foundations for the existence of the chiral magnetic waves. We find that the commonly used background-field approximation is not sufficient for treating the waves in hot chiral plasmas in the long-wavelength limit. Indeed, the back-reaction from dynamically induced electromagnetic fields turns the chiral magnetic wave into a diffusive mode. While the situation is slightly better in the strongly-coupled near-critical regime of quark-gluon plasma created in heavy-ion collisions, the chiral magnetic wave is still strongly overdamped due to the effects of electrical conductivity and charge diffusion.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2018

Electronic properties of strained double-Weyl systems

The effects of strains on the low-energy electronic properties of double-Weyl phases are studied in solids and cold-atom optical lattices. The principal finding is that deformations do not couple, in general, to the low-energy effective Hamiltonian as a pseudoelectromagnetic gauge potential. The response of an optical lattice to strains is simpler, but still only one of several strain-induced terms in the corresponding low-energy Hamiltonian can be interpreted as a gauge potential. Most interestingly, the strains can induce a nematic order parameter that splits a double-Weyl node into a pair of Weyl nodes with the unit topological charges. The effects of deformations on the motion of wavepackets in the double-Weyl optical lattice model are studied. It is found that, even in the undeformed lattices, the wavepackets with opposite topological charges can be spatially split. Strains, however, modify their velocities in a very different way and lead to a spin polarization of the wavepackets.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Non-Abelian properties of electron wave packets in Dirac semimetals A$_3$Bi (A=Na,K,Rb)

The motion of electron wave packets in the Dirac semimetals A$_3$Bi (A=Na,K,Rb) is studied in a semiclassical approximation. Because of the two-fold degeneracy of the Dirac points and a momentum-dependent gap term in the low-energy Hamiltonian, the associated Berry curvature is non-Abelian. In the presence of background electromagnetic fields, such a Berry curvature leads to a splitting of trajectories for the wave packets that originate from different Dirac points and chiral sectors. The nature of the splitting strongly depends on the background fields as well as the initial chiral composition of the wave packets. In parallel electric and magnetic fields, while a well pronounced valley splitting is achieved for any chirality composition, the chirality separation takes place predominantly for the initially polarized states. On the other hand, in perpendicular electric and magnetic fields, there are clear deviations from the conventional Abelian trajectories, albeit without a well-pronounced valley splitting.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Nonlocal transport in Weyl semimetals in the hydrodynamic regime

The nonlocal response of chiral electron fluid in a semi-infinite Weyl semimetal slab with the electric current source and drain attached to its surface is studied by using the consistent hydrodynamic framework. It is found that the Chern-Simons terms lead to a spatial asymmetry of the electron flow and the electric field. Most remarkably, the corresponding topological terms could result in a negative nonlocal resistance. In addition, they give rise to the anomalous Hall current, which is sensitive to the spatial distribution of the electric field in the plane of the contacts and depends on the orientation of the chiral shift.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Collective excitations in Weyl semimetals in the hydrodynamic regime

The spectrum of collective excitations in Weyl materials is studied by using consistent hydrodynamics. The corresponding framework includes the vortical and chiral anomaly effects, as well as the dependence on the separations between the Weyl nodes in energy $b_0$ and momentum $\mathbf{b}$. The latter are introduced via the Chern-Simons contributions to the electric current and charge densities in Maxwell's equations. It is found that, even in the absence of a background magnetic field, certain collective excitations (e.g. the helicon-like modes and the anomalous Hall waves) are strongly affected by the chiral shift $\mathbf{b}$. In a background magnetic field, the existence of the distinctive longitudinal and transverse anomalous Hall waves with a linear dispersion relation is predicted. They originate from the oscillations of the electric charge density and electromagnetic fields, in which different components of the fields are connected via the anomalous Hall effect in Weyl semimetals.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Hydrodynamic electron flow in a Weyl semimetal slab: Role of Chern-Simons terms

The hydrodynamic flow of the chiral electron fluid in a Weyl semimetal slab of finite thickness is studied by using the consistent hydrodynamic theory. The latter includes viscous, anomalous, and vortical effects, as well as accounts for dynamical electromagnetism. The energy and momentum separations between the Weyl nodes are taken into account via the topological Chern-Simons contributions in the electric current and charge densities in Maxwell's equations. When an external electric field is applied parallel to the slab, it is found that the electron fluid velocity has a nonuniform profile determined by the viscosity and the no-slip boundary conditions. Most remarkably, the fluid velocity field develops a nonzero component across the slab that gradually dissipates when approaching the surfaces. This abnormal component of the flow arises due to the anomalous Hall voltage induced by the topological Chern-Simons current. Another signature feature of the hydrodynamics in Weyl semimetals is a strong modification of the anomalous Hall current along the slab in the direction perpendicular to the applied electric field. Additionally, it is found that the topological current induces an electric potential difference between the surfaces of the slab that is strongly affected by the hydrodynamic flow.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Anomalous transport properties of Dirac and Weyl semimetals

In this review we discuss a wide range of topological properties of electron quasiparticles in Dirac and Weyl semimetals. Their nontrivial topology is quantified by a monopole-like Berry curvature in the vicinity of Weyl nodes, as well as by the energy and momentum space separations between the nodes. The momentum separation, which is also known as the chiral shift, is one of the key elements of this review. We show that it can be dynamically generated in Dirac materials in a background magnetic field. We also pay a special attention to various forms of interplay between the background electromagnetic fields and the topological characteristics of Dirac and Weyl semimetals. In particular, we discuss their signature features in the transport of the electric and chiral charges, heat, as well as the quantum oscillations associated with the Fermi arc states. The origin of the dissipative transport of the Fermi arc states is critically examined. Finally, a consistent chiral kinetic theory for the description of Weyl semimetals is reviewed and its applications are demonstrated.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Anomalous thermoelectric phenomena in lattice models of multi-Weyl semimetals

The thermoelectric transport coefficients are calculated in a generic lattice model of multi-Weyl semimetals with a broken time-reversal symmetry by using the Kubo's linear response theory. The contributions connected with the Berry curvature-induced electromagnetic orbital and heat magnetizations are systematically taken into account. It is shown that the thermoelectric transport is profoundly affected by the nontrivial topology of multi-Weyl semimetals. In particular, the calculation reveals a number of thermal coefficients of the topological origin which describe the anomalous Nernst and thermal Hall effects in the absence of background magnetic fields. Similarly to the anomalous Hall effect, all anomalous thermoelectric coefficients are proportional to the integer topological charge of the Weyl nodes. The dependence of the thermoelectric coefficients on the chemical potential and temperature is also studied.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Chiral response in lattice models of Weyl materials

For a generic lattice Hamiltonian of the electron states in Weyl materials, we calculate analytically the chiral (or, equivalently, valley) charge and current densities in the first order in background electromagnetic and strain-induced pseudoelectromagnetic fields. We find that the chiral response induced by the pseudoelectromagnetic fields is not topologically protected. Although our calculations reproduce qualitatively the anomalous chiral Hall effect, the actual result for the conductivity depends on the definition of the chirality as well as on the parameters of the lattice model. In addition, while for the well- separated Fermi surfaces surrounding the individual Weyl nodes the current induced by the magnetic field coincides almost exactly with the current of the chiral separation effect in linearized models, there are clear deviations when the Fermi surfaces undergo the Lifshitz transition. In general, we find that all chiral response coefficients vanish at large chemical potential.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Wigner function and kinetic phenomena for chiral plasma in a strong magnetic field

By using the exact solutions of the Weyl equation in a constant magnetic field, the equal-time Wigner function for magnetized chiral plasma is derived. It is found that the dependence of the Wigner function on the component of momentum along the magnetic field is asymmetric and is correlated with the fermion chirality. Such a dependence is principal for reproducing the correct chiral magnetic and chiral separation effects. In the lowest Landau level approximation, the equation for the equal-time Wigner function in a strong magnetic field is derived. By making use of this equation, it is found that the longitudinal collective modes in a strong magnetic field are gapped plasmons whose gap is determined by the magnetic field. Unlike the ordinary magnetic field, an axial one allows for the dispersion law of the collective excitations asymmetric in the wave vector. The thermoelectric phenomena for chiral fermions in strong magnetic and axial magnetic fields are studied and the corresponding transport coefficients are calculated.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Origin of Bardeen-Zumino current in lattice models of Weyl semimetals

For a generic lattice Hamiltonian of the electron states in Weyl semimetals, we calculate the electric charge and current densities in the first order in background electromagnetic and strain-induced pseudoelectromagnetic fields. We show that the resulting expressions for the densities contain contributions of two types. The contributions of the first type coincide with those in the chiral kinetic theory. The contributions of the second type contain the information about the whole Brillouin zone and cannot be reproduced in the chiral kinetic theory. Remarkably, the latter coincide exactly with the Bardeen-Zumino terms that are usually introduced in relativistic quantum field theory in order to define the consistent anomaly. We demonstrate the topological origin of the Bardeen-Zumino (or, equivalently, Chern-Simons) corrections by expressing them in terms of the winding number in the lattice Hamiltonian model.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗