Thomas–Fermi statistical models of finite quark matter

Abstract

I introduce and discuss models of finite quark matter using the formalism of the Thomas–Fermi statistical model. Similar to bag models, a vacuum energy density term is introduced to model long distance confinement, but the model produces bound states from the residual color Coulomb attraction even in the absence of such a term. I discuss three baryonic applications: an equal mass nonrelativistic model with and without volume pressure, the ultra-relativistic limit confined by volume pressure, and a color-flavor locking massless model. These models may be extended to multi-meson and other mixed hadronic states. Hopefully, it can help lead to a better understanding of the phenomenology of high multi-quark states in preparation for more detailed lattice QCD calculations.