A. D. Jackson

Phase diagram of QCD

We analyze the phase diagram of QCD with two massless quark flavors in the space of temperature T and chemical potential of the baryon charge {mu} using available experimental knowledge of QCD, insights gained from various models, as well as general and model independent arguments including continuity, universality, and thermodynamic relations. A random matrix model is used to describe the chiral symmetry restoration phase transition at finite T and {mu}. In agreement with general arguments, this model predicts a tricritical point in the T{mu} plane. Certain critical properties at such a point are universal and can be relevant to heavy ion collision experiments. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}

First order chiral phase transition in high-energy collisions: Can nucleation prevent spinodal decomposition?

We discuss homogeneous nucleation in a first-order chiral phase transition within an effective field theory approach to low-energy QCD. Exact decay rates and bubble profiles are obtained numerically and compared to analytic results obtained with the thin-wall approximation. The thin-wall approximation overestimates the nucleation rate for any degree of supercooling. The time scale for critical thermal fluctuations is calculated and compared to typical expansion times for high-energy hadronic or heavy-ion collisions. We find that significant supercooling is possible, and the relevant mechanism for phase conversion might be that of spinodal decomposition. Some potential experimental signatures of supercooling, such as an increase in the correlation length of the scalar condensate, are also discussed.

Fermion determinants in matrix models of QCD at nonzero chemical potential

The presence of a chemical potential completely changes the analytical structure of the QCD partition function. In particular, the eigenvalues of the Dirac operator are distributed over a finite area in the complex plane, whereas the zeros of the partition function in the complex mass plane remain on a curve. In this paper we study the effects of the fermion determinant at nonzero chemical potential on the Dirac spectrum by means of the resolvent, G(z), of the QCD Dirac operator. The resolvent is studied both in a one-dimensional U(1) model (Gibbs model) and in a random matrix model with the global symmetries of the QCD partition function. In both cases we find that, if the argument z of the resolvent is not equal to the mass m in the fermion determinant, the resolvent diverges in the thermodynamic limit. However, for z = m the resolvent in both models is well defined. In particular, the nature of the limit z → m is illuminated in the Gibbs model. The phase structure of the random matrix model in the complex m and µ-planes is investigated both by a saddle point approximation and via the distribution of YangLee zeros. Both methods are in complete agreement and lead to a well-defined chiral condensate and quark number density.

Random matrix study of the phase structure of QCD with two colors

We apply a random matrix model to the study of the phase diagram of QCD with two colors, two flavors, and a small quark mass. Although the effects of temperature are only included schematically, this model reproduces most of the ground state predictions of chiral perturbation theory and also gives a qualitative picture of the phase diagram at all temperatures. It leads, however, to an unphysical behavior of the chiral order parameter and the baryon density in vacuum and does not support diquark condensation at arbitrarily high densities. A better treatment of temperature dependence leads to correct vacuum and small temperature properties. We compare our results at both high and low densities with the results of microscopic calculations using the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model and discuss the effects of large momentum scales on the variations of condensation fields with chemical potential.

Random matrix model for chiral symmetry breaking and color superconductivity in QCD at finite density

We consider a random matrix model which describes the competition between chiral symmetry breaking and the formation of quark Cooper pairs in QCD at finite density. We study the evolution of the phase structure in temperature and chemical potential with variations of the strength of the interaction in the quark-quark channel and demonstrate that the phase diagram can realize a total of six different topologies. A vector interaction representing single-gluon exchange reproduces a topology commonly encountered in previous QCD models, in which a low-density chiral broken phase is separated from a high-density diquark phase by a first-order line. The other five topologies either do not possess a diquark phase or display a new phase and new critical points. Since these five cases require large variations of the coupling constants away from the values expected for a vector interaction, we conclude that the phase diagram of finite density QCD has the topology suggested by single-gluon exchange and that this topology is robust.

Yang-Lee zeros of a random matrix model for QCD at finite density

We study the Yang-Lee zeros of a random matrix partition function with the global symmetries of the QCD partition function. We consider both zeros in the complex chemical potential plane and in the complex mass plane. In both cases we find that the zeros are located on a curve. In the thermodynamic limit, the zeros appear to merge to form a cut. The shape of this limiting curve can be obtained from a saddle-point analysis of the partition function. An explicit solution for the line of zeros in the complex chemical potential plane at zero mass is given in the form of a transcendental equation.

A random matrix model for color superconductivity at zero chemical potential

We discuss random matrix models for the spontaneous breaking of both chiral and color symmetries at zero chemical potential and finite temperature. Exploring different Lorentz and gauge symmetric color structures of the random matrix interactions, we find that spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking is always thermodynamically preferred over diquark condensation. Stable diquark condensates appear only as

Duality in the color flavor locked spectrum

mathrm{SU}(2)

Random matrix models for phase diagrams

rotated chiral condensates, which do not represent an independent thermodynamic phase. Our analysis is based on general symmetry arguments and hence suggests that no stable and independent diquark phase can form in QCD with two flavors at zero quark chemical potential.

Random matrix models for chiral and diquark condensation

Abstract We analyze the spectrum of the massive states for the color flavor locked phase (CFL) of QCD. We show that the vector mesons have a mass of the order of the color superconductive gap Δ . We also see that the excitations associated with the solitonic sector of the CFL low energy theory have a mass proportional to F 2 π / Δ and hence are expected to play no role for the physics of the CFL phase for large chemical potential. Another interesting point is that the product of the soliton mass and the vector meson mass is independent of the gap. We interpret this behavior as a form of electromagnetic duality in the sense of Montonen and Olive. Our approach for determining the properties of the massive states is non-perturbative in nature and can be applied to any theory with multiple scales.