Chiral density waves in quarkyonic matter

TL;DR

This paper investigates the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter, revealing the existence of inhomogeneous chiral density wave phases that can be viewed as a form of quarkyonic matter, emphasizing the importance of inhomogeneous phases at finite temperature and density.

Contribution

It introduces the study of chiral density waves within the PNJL model, showing their relevance as a realization of quarkyonic matter and highlighting the significance of inhomogeneous phases.

Findings

Chiral Density Wave phase exists in the model.

CDW can be interpreted as a form of quarkyonic matter.

Inhomogeneous phases are crucial at finite temperature and density.

Abstract

We study the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter including the inhomogeneous phase of Chiral Density Waves (CDW) within the Polyakov loop extended Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (PNJL) model. We discuss the phase structure taking into account density and flavour dependence of the Polyakov loop potential parameter and temperature dependence of the four-point coupling constant of the NJL model. It is shown that the CDW phase exists and that can be interpreted as a special realisation of quarkyonic matter. This fact is of particular interest because the existence of homogeneous quarkyonic matter is strongly constrained. This also indicates that the study of inhomogeneous phases at finite temperatures and baryon densities are of special importance.