Phase Fluctuations near the Chiral Critical Point

TL;DR

This paper models phase fluctuations near the chiral critical point in QCD using a parametrized free energy and Landau theory, predicting large density fluctuations in heavy ion collisions.

Contribution

It introduces a parametrization of the free energy incorporating critical exponents and amplitudes to analyze fluctuations near the chiral critical point.

Findings

Large density fluctuations are predicted near the critical point.

The model incorporates critical exponents consistent with universality.

Fluctuation probabilities are significant in heavy ion collision conditions.

Abstract

The Helmholtz free energy density is parametrized as a function of temperature and baryon density near the chiral critical point of QCD. The parametrization incorporates the expected critical exponents and amplitudes. An expansion away from equilibrium states is achieved with Landau theory. This is used to calculate the probability that the system is found at a density other than the equilibrium one. Such fluctuations are predicted to be very large in heavy ion collisions.