Deconfinement Phase Transition under Chemical Equilibrium

TL;DR

This paper explores how assuming chemical equilibrium with leptons influences the deconfinement phase transition to quark matter, using the CMF model to map phase diagrams relevant to neutron star interiors.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of the deconfinement transition under chemical equilibrium conditions within the CMF model, extending understanding of astrophysical phase diagrams.

Findings

Deconfinement region collapses to a line under chemical equilibrium.

Phase diagrams show significant changes with chemical potential variations.

Results are relevant for modeling neutron star interiors.

Abstract

In this work, we investigate how the assumption of chemical equilibrium with leptons affects the deconfinement phase transition to quark matter. This is done within the framework of the Chiral Mean Field model (CMF) allowing for non-zero net strangeness, corresponding to the conditions found in astrophysical scenarios. We build 3-dimensional QCD phase diagrams with temperature, baryon chemical potential, and either charge or isospin fraction or chemical potential to show how the deconfinement region collapses to a line in the special case of chemical equilibrium, such as the one established the interior of cold catalyzed neutron stars.