Transport in strongly coupled quark matter

TL;DR

This paper uses gauge/gravity duality to study transport properties of dense quark matter, revealing significant differences from perturbative predictions and emphasizing the importance of strong coupling effects in neutron star physics.

Contribution

First systematic study of viscosities and conductivities in dense quark matter using gauge/gravity duality, specifically the V-QCD model.

Findings

Results differ qualitatively from perturbative predictions.

Transport properties vary significantly at strong coupling.

Highlights the need for caution when applying perturbative results to neutron stars.

Abstract

Motivated by the possible presence of deconfined quark matter in neutron stars and their mergers and the important role of transport phenomena in these systems, we perform the first-ever systematic study of different viscosities and conductivities of dense quark matter using the gauge/gravity duality. Utilizing the V-QCD model, we arrive at results that are in qualitative disagreement with the predictions of perturbation theory, which highlights the differing transport properties of the system at weak and strong coupling and calls for caution in the use of the perturbative results in neutron-star applications.