Thermoelectric transport coefficients of quark matter

TL;DR

This paper estimates thermoelectric transport coefficients such as thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient for hot, dense quark matter using the NJL model and relativistic Boltzmann transport equations.

Contribution

It provides the first estimates of thermoelectric coefficients for quark matter within the NJL model framework, incorporating in-medium scattering effects.

Findings

Thermal conductivity of quark matter is quantified.

Electrical conductivity of hot, dense quark matter is calculated.

Seebeck coefficient for quark matter is estimated.

Abstract

A thermal gradient and/or a chemical potential gradient in a conducting medium can lead to an electric field, an effect known as thermoelectric effect or Seebeck effect. In the context of heavy-ion collisions, we estimate the thermoelectric transport coefficients for quark matter within the ambit of the Nambu-Jona Lasinio (NJL) model. We estimate the thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and the Seebeck coefficient of hot and dense quark matter. These coefficients are calculated using the relativistic Boltzmann transport equation within relaxation time approximation. The relaxation times for the quarks are estimated from the quark-quark and quark-antiquark scattering through in-medium meson exchange within the NJL model.