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Cherenkov radiation in isotropic chiral matter: Unlocking threshold-free emission

R. Martínez von Dossow1,*, Eduardo Barredo-Alamilla2,†, Maxim A. Gorlach2,‡, and L. F. Urrutia1,§

  • 1Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Ciudad de México, México
  • 2School of Physics and Engineering, ITMO University, 197101 Saint Petersburg, Russia

  • *Contact author: ricardo.martinez@correo.nucleares.unam.mx
  • †Contact author: eduardo.barredo@metalab.ifmo.ru
  • ‡Contact author: m.gorlach@metalab.ifmo.ru
  • §Contact author: urrutia@nucleares.unam.mx

Phys. Rev. D 113, 016010 – Published 9 January, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/dngn-zh7f

Abstract

We investigate Cherenkov radiation in isotropic chiral matter using Carroll-Field-Jackiw electrodynamics, with an axion angle linear in time, to describe a charge moving at constant velocity. By solving the modified Maxwell’s equations in cylindrical coordinates and in the space-frequency domain, we derive closed expressions for the circularly polarized electromagnetic fields contributing independently to the radiation. The dispersion relations are obtained by imposing causality at a cylindrical surface at infinity, ensuring outgoing waves. Contrary to initial suppositions, each spectral energy distribution is gauge invariant and positive, describing radiation at a characteristic angle. We characterize the angles and identify frequency ranges that allow for zero, one, or two Cherenkov cones. Notably, one sector of the model enables threshold-free Cherenkov radiation from slowly moving charges. Our results agree with partial findings in the nonrelativistic limit of earlier iterative analysis and clarify the regimes in which Cherenkov radiation arises in isotropic chiral matter.

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Revisiting Cherenkov radiation in anisotropic chiral matter: Exact calculation reveals threshold-free emission

R. Martínez von Dossow and L. F. Urrutia
Phys. Rev. D 114, 016018 (2026)

Article Text

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