Phases of QCD at High Baryon Density

TL;DR

This paper reviews the phase structure of QCD at high baryon density, focusing on phenomena like color superconductivity, kaon condensation, and competing phases such as density waves and chiral crystals.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in understanding QCD phases at high density, including new insights into superfluid and crystalline phases.

Findings

Color superconductivity is a key phase at high density.

Kaon condensation may occur at very high baryon density.

Multiple phases compete at intermediate densities.

Abstract

We review recent work on the phase structure of QCD at very high baryon density. We introduce the phenomenon of color superconductivity and discuss how the quark masses and chemical potentials determine the structure of the superfluid quark phase. We comment on the possibility of kaon condensation at very high baryon density and study the competition between superfluid, density wave, and chiral crystal phases at intermediate density.