Color-flavor locked strange matter and strangelets at finite temperature

TL;DR

This paper investigates the stability and properties of color-flavor locked strange quark matter and strangelets at finite temperature using the MIT bag model, highlighting differences from unpaired SQM and discussing astrophysical implications.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of finite temperature effects on the stability of color-flavor locked strange quark matter and strangelets within the MIT bag model framework.

Findings

Color-flavor locking extends the stability window of strange quark matter.

Finite temperature influences the charge and stability of strangelets.

Dynamical screening effects are negligible in paired SQM strangelets.

Abstract

It is possible that a system composed of up, down and strange quarks consists the true ground state of nuclear matter at high densities and low temperatures. This exotic plasma, called strange quark matter (SQM), seems to be even more favorable energetically if quarks are in a superconducting state, the so-called color-flavor locked state. Here are presented calculations made on the basis of the MIT bag model considering the influence of finite temperature on the allowed parameters characterizing the system for stability of bulk SQM (the so-called stability windows) and also for strangelets, small lumps of SQM, both in the color-flavor locking scenario. We compare these results with the unpaired SQM and also briefly discuss some astrophysical implications of them. Also, the issue of strangelet's electric charge is discussed. The effects of dynamical screening, though important for non-paired SQM strangelets, are not relevant when considering pairing among all three flavor and colors of quarks.