Sigma meson and lowest possible glueball candidate in an extended linear σ\sigma model

We formulate an extended linear $\sigma$ model of a quarkonia nonet and a tetraquark nonet as well as a complex iso-singlet (glueball) field to study the low-lying scalar meson. Chiral symmetry and $U_A(1)$ symmetry and their breaking play important role to shape the scalar meson spectrum in our work. Based on our study we will comment on what may be the mass of the lowest possible scalar and pseudoscalar glueball states. We will also discuss on what may be the nature of the sigma or $f_0(600)$ meson.Comment: Contribution to the Proceedings of QCD@work 2012, Lecce, Italy, 18-21 June 2012, 5 pages, 2 figure

Interplay between chiral and deconfinement phase transitions

By using the dressed Polyakov loop or dual chiral condensate as an equivalent order parameter of the deconfinement phase transition, we investigate the relation between the chiral and deconfinement phase transitions at finite temperature and density in the framework of three-flavor Nambu--Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model. It is found that in the chiral limit, the critical temperature for chiral phase transition coincides with that of the dressed Polyakov loop in the whole $(T,\mu)$ plane. In the case of explicit chiral symmetry breaking, it is found that the phase transitions are flavor dependent. For each flavor, the transition temperature for chiral restoration $T_c^{\chi}$ is smaller than that of the dressed Polyakov loop $T_c^{{\cal D}}$ in the low baryon density region where the transition is a crossover, and, the two critical temperatures coincide in the high baryon density region where the phase transition is of first order. Therefore, there are two critical end points, i.e, $T_{CEP}^{u,d}$ and $T_{CEP}^{s}$ at finite density. We also explain the feature of $T_c^{\chi}=T_c^{\cal D}$ in the case of 1st and 2nd order phase transitions, and $T_c^{\chi}<T_c^{\cal D}$ in the case of crossover, and expect this feature is general and can be extended to full QCD theory.Comment: 8 pages, 12 figures, proceedings for the International Workshop on Hot and Cold Baryonic Matter 2010, Budapest, Aug. 15-20, 201

Chiral condensate and dressed Polyakov loop in the Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model

We investigate the chiral condensate and the dressed Polyakov loop or dual chiral condensate at finite temperature and density in two-flavor Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model. The dressed Polyakov loop is regarded as an equivalent order parameter of deconfinement phase transition in a confining theory. We find the behavior of dressed Polyakov loop in absence of any confinement mechanism is quite interesting, with only quark degrees of freedom present, it still shows an order parameter like behavior. It is found that in the chiral limit, the critical temperature for chiral phase transition coincides with that of the dressed Polyakov loop in the whole $(T,\mu)$ plane. In the case of explicit chiral symmetry breaking, it is found that the transition temperature for chiral restoration $T_c^{\chi}$ is smaller than that of the dressed Polyakov loop $T_c^{{\cal D}}$ in the low baryon density region where the transition is a crossover. With the increase of current quark mass the difference between the two transition temperatures is found to be increasing. However, the two critical temperatures coincide in the high baryon density region where the phase transition is of first order. We give an explanation on the feature of $T_c^{\chi}=T_c^{\cal D}$ in the case of 1st and 2nd order phase transitions, and $T_c^{\chi}<T_c^{\cal D}$ in the case of crossover, and expect this feature is general and can be extended to full QCD theory. Our result might indicate that in the case of crossover, there exists a small region where chiral symmetry is restored but the color degrees of freedom are still confined.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figure

Susceptibilities and speed of sound from PNJL model

We present the Taylor expansion coefficients of the pressure in quark number chemical potential $\mu_0=\mu_B / 3=\mu_u=\mu_d$, for the strongly interacting matter as described by the PNJL model for two light degenerate flavours of quarks u and d. The expansion has been done upto eighth order in $\mu_0$, and the results are consistent with recent estimates from Lattice. We have further obtained the specific heat $C_V$, squared speed of sound $v_s^2$ and the conformal measure \cC.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, References added, some discussions on Fig. 4 modified, one table added, results unchanged, version to appear in Phys. Rev.

PNJL model with a Van der Monde term

We extend the Polyakov-Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (PNJL) model for two degenerate flavours by including the effect of the SU(3) measure with a Van der Monde (VdM) term. This ensures that the Polyakov loop always remains in the domain [0,1]. The pressure, energy density, specific heat, speed of sound and conformal measure show small or negligible effects from this term. However various quark number and isospin susceptibilities are all found to approach their respective ideal gas limits around 2 $T_c$. We compare our methods with other similar approaches in PNJL model and also present a quantitative comparison with Lattice QCD data.Comment: 12 pages, 8 eps figures; extended discussion and reference added; accepted in Phys. Rev.