3-FLAVOR QUARK MATTER IN THE CHIRAL COLOR-DIELECTRIC MODEL

We investigate the properties of quark matter at finite density and te mperature using the nonlinear chiral extension of the color dielectric model. Assuming that the square of the meson fields develops a nonzer o vacuum expectation value, the thermodynamic potential for interactin g three flavor matter has been calculated. It is found that [K-2] and [eta(2)] remain zero in the medium whereas [eta(2)] changes in the med ium. As a result, u and d quark masses decrease monotonically as the t emperature and density of the quark matter is increased. In the presen t model, the deconfinement density and temperature are found to be low er compared to lattice results. We also study the behavior of pressure and energy density above critical temperature.