Published on April 01, 2024
Title
Modern nuclear and astrophysical constraints of dense matter in a redefined chiral approach
Authors
Rajesh Kumar, Yuhan Wang, Nikolas Cruz Camacho, Arvind Kumar, Jacquelyn Noronha-Hostler, Veronica Dexheimer
Abstract
We explore the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) phase diagram’s complexities, including quark deconfinement transitions, liquid-gas phase changes, and critical points by using the chiral mean-field (CMF) model that is able to capture all these features. We introduce a vector meson field redefinition within the CMF framework, enabling precise adjustments of meson masses and coupling strengths related to vector meson interactions. Performing a new fit to the deconfinement potential, we are able to replicate recent lattice QCD results, low-energy nuclear physics properties, neutron star observational data, and key phase diagram features as per modern constraints. This approach enhances our understanding of vector mesons’ roles in mediating nuclear interactions and their impact on the equation of state, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the QCD phase diagram and its implications for nuclear and astrophysical phenomena.
This project is supported by National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement OAC-2103680. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.