Spin Polarization versus Color-Flavor-Locking in High Density Quark Matter

TL;DR

This paper investigates the competition between spin polarization and color-flavor locking in high-density three-flavor quark matter, revealing that spin polarization dominates at high density and the phase transition is first order.

Contribution

It demonstrates that spin polarization replaces color-flavor locking at high density using the NJL model with tensor interactions, and identifies the phase transition as first order.

Findings

Spin polarization occurs instead of color-flavor locking at high density.

The phase transition between the two phases is first order.

The study uses the NJL model with tensor-type interactions.

Abstract

It is shown that spin polarization with respect to each flavor in three-flavor quark matter occurs instead of the color-flavor locking at high baryon density by using the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model with four-point tensor-type interaction. Also, it is indicated that the order of phase transition between the color-flavor locked phase and the spin polarized phase is the first order by means of the second order perturbation theory.