QCD at finite isospin density

Citation
Dt. Son et Ma. Stephanov, QCD at finite isospin density, PHYS REV L, 86(4), 2001, pp. 592-595
Citations number
37
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
ISSN journal
00319007 → ACNP
Volume
86
Issue
4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
592 - 595
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(20010122)86:4<592:QAFID>2.0.ZU;2-6
Abstract
QCD at finite isospin chemical potential mu (l) has no fermion sign problem and can be studied on the lattice. We solve this theory analytically in tw o limits: at low mu (l), where chiral perturbation theory is applicable, an d at asymptotically high mu (l), where perturbative QCD works. At low isosp in density the ground state is a pion condensate, whereas at high density i t is a Fermi liquid with Cooper pairing. The pairs carry the same quantum n umbers as the pion. This leads us to conjecture that the transition from ha dron to quark matter is smooth, which passes several tests. Our results imp ly a nontrivial phase diagram in the space of temperature and chemical pote ntials of isospin and baryon number.