A field theoretical model for quarkyonic matter

TL;DR

This paper develops a field theoretical model combining nucleon and quark degrees of freedom to describe quarkyonic matter, enabling systematic calculations of its properties relevant to neutron star interiors.

Contribution

It introduces a novel synthesis of the Walecka and quark-meson models to quantitatively describe quarkyonic matter with both nucleon and quark components.

Findings

Good agreement with nuclear matter properties at various densities

Demonstrates a smooth transition from nucleon to quark dominance

Provides a framework for future studies of dense nuclear matter

Abstract

The possibility that nuclear matter at a density relevant to the interior of massive neutron stars may be a quarkynoic matter has attracted considerable recent interest. In this work, we construct a field theoretical model to describe the quarkyonic matter, that would allow quantitative and systematic calculations of its various properties. This is implemented by synthesizing the Walecka model together with the quark-meson model, where both quark and nucleon degrees of freedom are present based on the quarkyonic scenario. With this model we compute at mean-field level the thermodynamic properties of the symmetric nuclear matter and calibrate model parameters through well-known nuclear physics measurements. We find this model gives a very good description of the symmetric nuclear matter from moderate to high baryon density and demonstrates a continuous transition from nucleon-dominance to quark-dominance for the system.