We scrutinize the novel chiral transport phenomenon driven by spacetime torsion, namely, the chiral torsional effect (CTE). We calculate the torsion-induced chiral currents with finite temperature, density, and curvature in the most general torsional gravity theory. The conclusion complements the previous study on the CTE by including curvature and substantiates the relation between the CTE and the Nieh-Yan anomaly. We also analyze the response of chiral torsional current to an external electromagnetic field. The resulting topological current is analogous to that in the axion electrodynamics.

• Received 23 April 2020
• Accepted 8 June 2020
• Corrected 20 June 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.102.016001

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Published by the American Physical Society