Holographic Phase Transitions with Fundamental Matter

TL;DR

This paper explores phase transitions in holographic gauge theories with fundamental matter, analyzing how meson spectra change with temperature and identifying the nature of the phase transition.

Contribution

It provides a detailed holographic description of phase transitions involving fundamental matter and meson spectra in gauge theories at finite temperature.

Findings

Phase transition is first order at large N and strong coupling.

Meson spectrum shifts from discrete to continuous across the transition.

Transition temperature exceeds deconfinement temperature in confining theories.

Abstract

The holographic dual of a finite-temperature gauge theory with a small number of flavours typically contains D-brane probes in a black hole background. At low temperature the branes sit outside the black hole and the meson spectrum is discrete and possesses a mass gap. As the temperature increases the branes approach a critical solution. Eventually they fall into the horizon and a phase transition occurs. In the new phase the meson spectrum is continuous and gapless. At large N and large 't Hooft coupling, this phase transition is always of first order, and in confining theories with heavy quarks it occurs at a temperature higher than the deconfinement temperature for the glue.