Scalar-pseudoscalar meson spectrum in SU(3) PNJL model

TL;DR

This paper studies how mesonic properties change in hot environments using the SU(3) PNJL model, highlighting the importance of the Polyakov loop in matching lattice QCD results and analyzing symmetry restoration.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the Polyakov loop is essential for accurately reproducing lattice results and details the temperature range of chiral symmetry restoration in the PNJL model.

Findings

Polyakov loop effects are crucial for lattice agreement.

Chiral symmetry restores at lower temperatures than in NJL.

Topological susceptibility matches lattice data near T/Tc ≈ 1.

Abstract

We investigate the modifications of mesonic properties in a hot medium having in mind to use the mesonic modes as a tool to analyze the restoration of chiral and axial symmetries in the context of the SU(3) Polyakov--Nambu--Jona-Lasinio (PNJL) model. The results lead to the conclusion that the effects of the Polyakov loop are fundamental for reproducing lattice findings. It is found that the restoration of chiral symmetry in the PNJL model occurs in a small range of temperature (smaller that in the Nambu--Jona-Lasinio (NJL)), and the topological susceptibility reproduces well the lattice results around $T/T_c^\chi\approx 1.0$.