Possibility of QCD critical point sweep during black hole formation

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential to observe the QCD critical point during black hole formation from stellar collapse, suggesting that conditions may reach the critical point before horizon formation, especially in asymmetric matter.

Contribution

It proposes that the QCD critical point could be probed during black hole formation, with models indicating it may be accessible in realistic astrophysical scenarios.

Findings

Quark matter likely forms before horizon creation.

The QCD critical point may be reachable during black hole formation.

Critical point moves to lower temperature in asymmetric nuclear matter.

Abstract

We discuss the possibility to probe the QCD critical point during the dynamical black hole formation from a gravitational collapse of a massive star, where the temperature and the baryon chemical potential become as high as T ~ 90 MeV and $\mu_B$ ~ 1300 MeV. Comparison with the phase boundary in chiral effective models suggests that quark matter is likely to be formed before the horizon is formed. Furthermore, the QCD critical point may be probed during the black hole formation. The critical point is found to move in the lower temperature direction in asymmetric nuclear matter, and in some of the chiral models it is found to be in the reachable region during the black hole formation processes.