Thermodynamical phases in a PNJL model at zero temperature

The confinement/deconfinement transition described the Polyakov–Nambu–Jona–Lasinio (PNJL) model is extended to be operative at zero temperature regime. In this study, the scalar and vector channel interaction strengths of the original PNJL model are modified by introducing a dependence on the traced Polyakov loop. In such a way the effective interactions depend on the quark phase and in turn provides a backreaction of the quarks to the gluonic sector, also at zero temperature. On general grounds from quantum chromodynamics this is an expected feature. The thermodynamics of the extended model (PNJL0) is studied in detail. It presents along with a suitable choice of the Polyakov potential, a first order confined/deconfined quark phase transition even at $$T=0$$ T = 0 . We also show that the vector channel plays an important role in order to allow $$\varPhi \ne 0$$ Φ ≠ 0 solutions for the PNJL0 model. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the combined quarkyonic and deconfinement phases to the vector interaction strength and the proposed parametrization of the Polyakov-loop potential at $$T=0$$ T = 0 allowed to set a window for the bulk values of the relevant parameters.

Isospin Effect on Baryon and Charge Fluctuations from the pNJL Model

We have studied the possible isospin corrections on the skewness and kurtosis of net-baryon and net-charge fluctuations in the isospin asymmetric matter formed in relativistic heavy-ion collisions at RHIC-BES energies, based on a 3-flavor Polyakov-looped Nambu–Jona–Lasinio model. With typical scalar–isovector and vector–isovector couplings leading to the splitting of u and d quark chiral phase transition boundaries and critical points, we have observed considerable isospin effects on the susceptibilities, especially those of net-charge fluctuations. Reliable experimental measurements at even lower collision energies are encouraged to confirm the observed isospin effects.

Using the Beth–Uhlenbeck Approach to Describe the Kaon to Pion Ratio in a 2 + 1 Flavor PNJL Model

The kaon to pion ratios are discussed in the framework of a 2 + 1 flavor PNJL model. In order to interpret the behavior of bound states in medium, the Beth–Uhlenbeck approach is used. It is shown that, in terms of phase shifts in the K + channel, an additional low-energy mode could appear as a bound state in medium, since the masses of the quark constituents are different. The comparison with experimental data for the ratios is performed and the influence of the anomalous mode to the “horn” effect in the K + / π + ratio is discussed.