Quark-hadron Phase Transition Research Articles

Horava–Lifshitz cosmology, entropic interpretation and quark–hadron phase transition

Based on the assumptions of the standard model of cosmology, a phase transition associated with chiral symmetry breaking after the electroweak transition has occurred at approximately 10 μs after the Big Bang to convert a plasma of free quarks and gluons into hadrons. We consider such a phase transition in the context of a deformed Horava–Lifshitz cosmology. The Friedmann equation for the deformed Horava–Lifshitz universe is obtained using the entropic interpretation of gravity, proposed by Verlinde. We investigate the effects of the parameter ω appearing in the theory on the evolution of the physical quantities relevant to a description of the early universe, namely, the energy density and temperature before, during and after the phase transition. Finally, we study the cross-over phase transition in both high and low temperature regions in view of the recent lattice QCD simulations data.

SPINDOWN OF ISOLATED NEUTRON STARS: GRAVITATIONAL WAVES OR MAGNETIC BRAKING?

We study the spindown of isolated neutron stars from initially rapid rotation rates, driven by two factors: (i) gravitational wave emission due to r-modes and (ii) magnetic braking. In the context of isolated neutron stars, we present the first study including self-consistently the magnetic damping of r-modes in the spin evolution. We track the spin evolution employing the RNS code, which accounts for the rotating structure of neutron stars for various equations of state. We find that, despite the strong damping due to the magnetic field, r-modes alter the braking rate from pure magnetic braking for B<10^{13}G. For realistic values of the saturation amplitude, the r-mode can also decrease the time to reach the threshold central density for quark deconfinement. Within a phenomenological model, we assess the gravitational waveform that would result from r-mode driven spindown of a magnetized neutron star. To contrast with the persistent signal during the spindown phase, we also present a preliminary estimate of the transient gravitational wave signal from an explosive quark-hadron phase transition, which can be a signal for the deconfinement of quarks inside neutron stars.

Quark-hadron phase transitions in the viscous early universe

Based on hot big bang theory, the cosmological matter is conjectured to undergo QCD phase transition(s) to hadrons, when the universe was about $1-10 \mu$s old. In the present work, we study the quark-hadron phase transition, by taking into account the effect of the bulk viscosity. We analyze the evolution of the quantities relevant for the physical description of the early universe, namely, the energy density $\rho$, temperature $T$, Hubble parameter $H$ and scale factor $a$ before, during and after the phase transition. To study the cosmological dynamics and the time evolution we use both analytical and numerical methods. By assuming that the phase transition may be described by an effective nucleation theory (prompt {\it first-order} phase transition), we also consider the case where the universe evolved through a mixed phase with a small initial supercooling and monotonically growing hadronic bubbles. The numerical estimation of the cosmological parameters, $a$ and $H$ for instance, makes it clear that the time evolution varies from phase to phase. As the QCD era turns to be fairly accessible in the high-energy experiments and the lattice QCD simulations, the QCD equation of state is very well defined. In light of this, we introduce a systematic study of the {\it cross-over} quark-hadron phase transition and an estimation for the time evolution of Hubble parameter.

Evolution of proto-neutron stars with hadron–quark phase transition

We investigate the consequences of the quark deconfinement phase transition on the evolution of proto-neutron stars. Assuming a first order phase transition, we calculate the nucleation time due to thermal and quantum nucleation mechanisms. We introduce the concepts of critical mass Mcr and limiting conversion temperature for proto-hadronic stars. We show that proto-hadronic stars with a mass M < Mcr could survive the early stages of their evolution without decaying to quark stars.

Resonant annihilation of long-lived massive colored particles through hadronic collisions

Hypothetical long-lived massive colored particles (MCPs or $Y\mathrm{s}$) would be confined in colorless exotic strongly interacting massive particles (SIMPs) at a color confinement temperature of ${T}_{\mathrm{C}}\ensuremath{\sim}200\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV}$. Two long-lived MCPs form a bound state ($Y\overline{Y}$) at collisions of two SIMPs. We study sensitivities of MCP annihilation to decay properties of resonances ($Y\overline{Y}$), and binding energies or energy levels of exotic SIMPs. The ($Y\overline{Y}$) formation is assumed to dominantly proceed through resonances of ($Y\overline{Y}$) in this paper. We make a toy model of the effective cross section for $Y\overline{Y}$ annihilation. Abundances of SIMPs are then calculated for different sets of parameters specifying properties of ($Y\overline{Y}$) resonances, binding energies of SIMPs, the initial abundance and the mass of MCP. Calculated relic abundances for respective SIMP species are $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}--3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ times that of baryon. They can be much higher but cannot be much smaller than the previous estimate. The abundances can be consistent depending on parameters with the possible scenario that SIMPs bind to nuclei and subsequent exotic nuclear reactions reduce the primordial abundance of $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ or enhance those of $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$ and/or B in the early Universe. A unique information on the quark-hadron phase transition in the early Universe may become available in future by elaborated studies on the annihilation process with light element abundances as observables.

Anomalous fractal dimension and Ginzburg–Landau phase transition study in high energy nuclear interaction

This work presents an analysis of anomalous fractal dimension of pions emitted from 16 O – AgBr interactions at 2.1 AGeV and 60 AGeV and 32S–AgBr interactions at 200 AGeV using the data of F q moment analysis in different phase space binning regions in two-dimensional η– ϕ space. Further a scaling exponent ( ν) in each case has been determined following Ginzburg–Landau formalism to search for possible signal of quark-hadron phase transition. The analysis reveals that the values of scaling exponent in all bin-ranges at three widely different energies are significantly different from the critical value (1.304) discarding any possibility of QGP phase transition.

RADIAL PULSATIONS OF HYBRID NEUTRON STARS

In this work we investigate the adiabatic radial oscillations of hybrid stars. We use a relativistic-mean-field model equation of state (EOS) to describe the hadron phase and the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model for the quark matter phase. We integrate the equations of relativistic radial oscillations using different parameterizations for the NJL model and investigate the effect of a first order hadron-quark phase transition on the fundamental oscillation mode. The results show that the period τ of the fundamental mode is characterized by a cusp on the maximum mass and is finite for some configurations beyond the maximum mass. We conclude that for hybrid stars with sharp discontinuities the standard stability criterion ∂M/∂εc &gt; 0 is not coincident with the stability criterion based on the finiteness of τ.

Hadron-quark phase transition in a hadronic and Polyakov–Nambu–Jona-Lasinio models perspective

In this work we study the hadron-quark phase transition matching relativistic hadrodynamical mean-field models (in the hadronic phase) with the more updated versions of the Polyakov-Nambu-Jona-Lasinio models (on the quark side). Systematic comparisons are performed showing that the predicted hadronic phases of the matching named as RMF-PNJL, are larger than the confined phase obtained exclusively by the Polyakov quark models. This important result is due to the effect of the nuclear force that causes more resistance of hadronic matter to isothermal compressions. For sake of comparison, we also obtain the matchings of the hadronic models with the MIT bag model, named as RMF-MIT, showing that it presents always larger hadron regions, while shows smaller mixed phases than that obtained from the RMF-PNJL ones. Thus, studies of the confinement transition in nuclear matter, done only with quark models, still need nuclear degrees of freedom to be more reliable in the whole $T\times\mu$ phase diagram.

Strange matter in core-collapse supernovae

We discuss the possible impact of strange quark matter on the evolution of core-collapse supernovae with emphasis on low critical densities for the quark-hadron phase transition. For such cases the hot proto-neutron star can collapse to a more compact hybrid star configuration hundreds of milliseconds after core-bounce. The collapse triggers the formation of a second shock wave. The latter leads to a successful supernova explosion and leaves an imprint on the neutrino signal. These dynamical features are discussed with respect to their compatibility with recent neutron star mass measurements which indicate a stiff high density nuclear matter equation of state.

Hadron-quark phase transition in dense matter

The two-Equation of State (EoS) model is used to describe the hadron-quark phase transition in asymmetric matter formed at high density in heavy-ion collisions. For the quark phase, the three-flavor Nambu–Jona-Lasinio (NJL) effective theory is used to investigate the influence of dynamical quark mass effects on the phase transition. At variance to the MIT-Bag results, with fixed current quark masses, the main important effect of the chiral dynamics is the appearance of an end point for the coexistence zone. We show that a first order hadron-quark phase transition may take place in the region T = (50 – 80) MeV and ρB = (2 – 4)ρ0, which is possible to be probed in the new planned facilities, such as FAIR at GSI-Darmstadt and NICA at JINR-Dubna. From isospin properties of the mixed phase some possible signals are suggested. The importance of chiral symmetry and dynamical quark mass on the hadron-quark phase transition is stressed.

Hybrid stars with the Dyson-Schwinger quark model

We study the hadron-quark phase transition in the interior of neutron stars. For the hadronic sector, we use a microscopic equation of state involving nucleons and hyperons derived within the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock many-body theory with realistic two-body and three-body forces. For the description of quark matter, we employ the Dyson-Schwinger approach and compare with the MIT bag model. We calculate the structure of neutron star interiors comprising both phases and find that with the Dyson-Schwinger model, the hadron-quark phase transition takes place only when hyperons are excluded, and that a two-solar-mass hybrid star is possible only if the nucleonic equation of state is stiff enough.

The First Magnetic Fields

We review current ideas on the origin of galactic and extragalactic magnetic fields. We begin by summarizing observations of magnetic fields at cosmological redshifts and on cosmological scales. These observations translate into constraints on the strength and scale magnetic fields must have during the early stages of galaxy formation in order to seed the galactic dynamo. We examine mechanisms for the generation of magnetic fields that operate prior during inflation and during subsequent phase transitions such as electroweak symmetry breaking and the quark-hadron phase transition. The implications of strong primordial magnetic fields for the reionization epoch as well as the first generation of stars is discussed in detail. The exotic, early-Universe mechanisms are contrasted with astrophysical processes that generate fields after recombination. For example, a Biermann-type battery can operate in a proto-galaxy during the early stages of structure formation. Moreover, magnetic fields in either an early generation of stars or active galactic nuclei can be dispersed into the intergalactic medium.

Hadron-quark phase transitions in hyperon stars

We compare the Gibbs and Maxwell constructions for the hadron-quark phase transition in neutron and protoneutron stars, including interacting hyperons in the confined phase. We find that the hyperon populations are suppressed, and that neutrino trapping shifts the onset of the phase transition. The effects on the (proto)neutron star maximum mass are explored.

Imprints of Nuclear Symmetry Energy on Properties of Neutron Stars

Significant progress has been made in recent years in constraining the density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy using terrestrial nuclear laboratory data. Around and below the nuclear matter saturation density, the experimental constraints start to merge in a relatively narrow region. At supra-saturation densities, there are, however, still large uncertainties. After summarizing the latest experimental constraints on the density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy, we highlight a few recent studies examining imprints of nuclear symmetry energy on the binding energy, energy release during hadron-quark phase transitions as well as the ω-mode frequency and damping time of gravitational wave emission of neutron stars.

QUARK MATTER IN MASSIVE COMPACT STARS

The recent observation of the pulsar PSR J1614-2230 with a mass of 1.97 ± 0.04 M☉ gives a strong constraint on the quark and nuclear matter equations of state (EoS). We explore the parameter ranges for a parameterized EoS for quark stars. We find that strange stars, made of absolutely stable strange quark matter, comply with the new constraint only if effects from the strong coupling constant and color-superconductivity are taken into account. Hybrid stars, compact stars with a quark matter core and a hadronic outer layer, can be as massive as 2 M☉, but only for a significantly limited range of parameters. We demonstrate that the appearance of quark matter in massive stars crucially depends on the stiffness of the nuclear matter EoS. We show that the masses of hybrid stars stay below the ones of hadronic and pure quark stars, due to the softening of the EoS at the quark–hadron phase transition.

Evolution of proto-neutron stars with the hadron–quark phase transition

The Poyakov–Nambu–Jona-Lasinio (PNJL) model was developed recently, which includes both the chiral dynamics and (de)confinement effect and gives a good description of lattice QCD data. In this study we use the PNJL model to describe the quark phase, and first use it to study the evolution of proto-neutron star (PNS) with a hadron–quark phase transition. Along the line of a PNS evolution, we take several snapshots of PNS profiles, presenting the fractions of different species, the equations of state (EOS), and the mass–radius relations at different stages. The calculation shows the mixed phase may exist during the whole evolving process, and the onset density of quark phase decreases with the radiation of neutrinos in the heating stage. In the cooling stage, the EOS of the mixed phase softens and the center density increases. In this process a part of nuclear matter transforms to quark matter, which may lead to a PNS collapsing into a black hole.

Phase diagrams in the hadron–Polyakov–Nambu–Jona-Lasinio model

The two-Equation of State (Two-EoS) model is used to describe the hadron-quark phase transition in dense-hot matter formed in heavy-ion collisions. The non-linear Walecka model is used to describe the hadronic phase. For the quark phase, the Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model coupled to Polyakov-Loop fields (PNJL) is used to include both the chiral and (de)confinement dynamics. The phase diagrams are derived from the Gibbs conditions and compared with the results obtained in the Hadron-NJL model without confinement. As in the Hadron-NJL case a first order transition is observed, but with a Critical-End-Point at much higher temperature, consequence of the confinement mechanism that reduces the degrees of freedom of the quark matter in proximity of the phase transition. Particular attention is devoted to the phase transition in isospin asymmetric matter. Interesting isospin effects are found at high baryon density and reduced temperatures, in fact common also to other quark models, like MIT-Bag and NJL model. Some possible observation signals are suggested to probe in Heavy-Ion Collision (HIC) experiments at intermediate energies.

Effect of finite chemical potential on QGP-Hadron phase transition in a statistical model of fireball formation

We study the effect of finite chemical potential for the QGP constituents in the Ramanathan et al. statistical model (Phys.Rev.C70, 027903,2004). While the earlier computations using this model with vanishing chemical potentials indicated a weakly first order phase transition for the system in the vicinity of 170 MeV (Pramana, 68, 757, 2007), the introduction of finite values for the chemical potentials of the constituents makes the transition a smooth roll over of the phases, while allowing fireball formation with radius of a few "fermi" to take place. This seems to be in conformity with the latest consensus on the nature of the QGP-Hadron phase transition. Keywords: Quark Gluon Plasma, Quark Hadron Phase Transition

Influences of the bag constant on properties of hybrid stars

Influences of the bag constant on the properties of hybrid stars are investigated by using relativistic mean field theory and the MIT bag model to describe the hadron phase and quark phase in the interior of neutron stars, respectively. Our results indicate that the onset of hadron-quark phase transition is put off and the appearance of hyperon species is increased with the increase in bag constant. As a result, the hybrid star equation of state for a mixed phase range stiffens whereas that of the quark phase range softens, and the gravitational mass as well as the corresponding radius of hybrid stars are increased obviously. The gravitational mass of a hybrid star is increased from 1.42 M⊙ (M⊙ is solar mass) to 1.63M⊙ and the corresponding radius is changed from 9.1 km to 12.2 km when the bag constant (B1/4) is increased from 170 MeV to 200 MeV. It is interesting to find that hybrid star equations of state become non-smooth when the TM2 parameter sets in the framework of relativistic mean field theory used to describe the hadronic matter, and consequently, the third family of compact stars appear in the mass-radius relations of hybrid stars in the narrow scope of the bag constant from 175 MeV to 180 MeV. These show that the choice of the bag constant in the MIT bag model has significant influence on the properties of hybrid stars.

Hadron-quark phase transition in asymmetric matter with dynamical quark masses

The two-Equation of State (EoS) model is used to describe the hadron-quark phase transition in asymmetric matter formed at high density in heavy-ion collisions. For the quark phase, the three-flavor Nambu--Jona-Lasinio (NJL) effective theory is used to investigate the influence of dynamical quark mass effects on the phase transition. At variance to the MIT-Bag results, with fixed current quark masses, the main important effect of the chiral dynamics is the appearance of an End-Point for the coexistence zone. We show that a first order hadron-quark phase transition may take place in the region T=(50-80)MeV and \rho_B=(2-4)\rho_0, which is possible to be probed in the new planned facilities, such as FAIR at GSI-Darmstadt and NICA at JINR-Dubna. From isospin properties of the mixed phase somepossible signals are suggested. The importance of chiral symmetry and dynamical quark mass on the hadron-quark phase transition is stressed. The difficulty of an exact location of Critical-End-Point comes from its appearance in a region of competition between chiral symmetry breaking and confinement, where our knowledge of effective QCD theories is still rather uncertain.