Comments About the Electromagnetic Field in Heavy-Ion Collisions

Abstract

In this short article we discuss the properties of electromagnetic fields in heavy-ion collisions and consequences for observables. We address quantitatively the issue of the magnetic field lifetime in a collision including the electric and chiral magnetic conductivities. We show that for reasonable parameters, the magnetic field created by spectators in a collision is not modified by the presence of matter. Based on this, we draw definite conclusions on observed effects in heavy-ion collisions.