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Phase transition dynamics for baryon-dense matter

Jørgen Randrup
Phys. Rev. C 79, 054911 – Published 26 May 2009
Physics logo See Synopsis: Signs of a critical point

Abstract

We construct a simple two-phase equation of state intended to resemble that of compressed baryon-rich matter and then introduce a gradient term in the compressional energy density to take account of finite-range effects in nonuniform configurations. With this model we study the interface between the two coexisting phases and obtain estimates for the associated interface tension. Subsequently, we incorporate the finite-range equation of state into ideal or viscous fluid dynamics and derive the collective dispersion relation for the mechanically unstable modes of bulk matter in the spinodal region of the thermodynamic phase diagram. Combining these results with time scales extracted from existing dynamical transport simulations, we discuss the prospects for spinodal phase separation to occur in nuclear collisions. We argue that these can be optimized by a careful tuning of the collision energy to maximize the time spent by the bulk of the system inside the mechanically unstable spinodal region of the phase diagram. Our specific numerical estimates suggest cautious optimism that this phenomenon may in fact occur, though a full dynamical simulation is needed for a detailed assessment.

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  • Received 28 March 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.79.054911

©2009 American Physical Society

Synopsis

Key Image

Signs of a critical point

Published 1 June 2009

Phase separation could be an experimentally observable signature of the predicted critical point in dense quark matter.

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Authors & Affiliations

Jørgen Randrup

  • Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

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Issue

Vol. 79, Iss. 5 — May 2009

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