Chirally symmetric but confined hadrons at finite density

TL;DR

This paper proposes that at finite density and low temperature, QCD may feature a phase where hadrons remain confined yet exhibit restored chiral symmetry, challenging traditional views of the QCD phase diagram.

Contribution

It demonstrates the theoretical possibility of confined but chirally symmetric hadrons at finite chemical potential, suggesting a new phase in the QCD phase diagram.

Findings

Confined but chirally symmetric hadrons can exist at finite density.

Implications for heavy ion collision experiments and astrophysics.

Reconsideration of the QCD phase diagram is necessary.

Abstract

At a critical finite chemical potential and low temperature QCD undergoes the chiral restoration phase transition. The folklore tradition is that simultaneously hadrons are deconfined and there appears the quark matter. We demonstrate that it is possible to have confined but chirally symmetric hadrons at a finite chemical potential and hence beyond the chiral restoration point at a finite chemical potential and low temperature there could exist a chirally symmetric matter consisting of chirally symmetric but confined hadrons. If it does happen in QCD, then the QCD phase diagram should be reconsidered with obvious implications for heavy ion programs and astrophysics.