Cluster virial expansion for quark and nuclear matter

Abstract

We employ the $\Phi-$ derivable approach to many particle systems with strong correlations that can lead to the formation of bound states (clusters) of different size. We define a generic form of $\Phi-$ functionals that is fully equivalent to a selfconsistent cluster virial expansion up to the second virial coefficient for interactions among the clusters. As examples we consider nuclei in nuclear matter and hadrons in quark matter, with particular attention to the case of the deuterons in nuclear matter and mesons in quark matter. We derive a generalized Beth-Uhlenbeck equation of state, where the quasiparticle virial expansion is extended to include arbitrary clusters. The approach is applicable to nonrelativistic potential models of nuclear matter as well as to relativistic field theoretic models of quark matter. It is particularly suited for a description of cluster formation and dissociation in hot, dense matter.