SOFT DECONFINEMENT - CRITICAL PHENOMENA AT THE MOTT TRANSITION IN A FIELD-THEORY FOR QUARKS AND MESONS

Critical phenomena associated with Mott transitions are investigated i n the finite temperature SUf(3) Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model, that describ es quarks u, d, s and bound mesons pi, K. Critical exponents for the b ehavior close to the Mott temperature TM are determined for the static properties of a pion, such as M(pi)(T), g(pi qq)(T), f(pi)(T), [r(2)] (pi), and the pion polarizabilities alpha(C,N), as well as for the beh avior of m(K)(T), g(Kqs)(T) and f(K)(T) in the strange sector. The eff ect of the Mott transitions on the q(q) over barq$ and pi pi scatterin g lengths and for hadronization cross sections sigma(qq-->pi pi)(T) is discussed. Divergencies that occur in these quantities at T-M indicat e an intransparence with respect to hadronic and photonic probes, much like the phenomenon of critical opalescence, Physically, the Mob tran sition models the deconfinement transition expected of QCD since it co rresponds to a delocalization of the bound states when the temperature is raised above T-M.