Relativistic Mean-Field Model with Scaled Hadron Masses and Couplings

Here we continue to elaborate properties of the relativistic mean-field based model (SHMC) proposed in ref. [6] where hadron masses and coupling constants depend on the $\sigma$-meson field. The validity of approximations used in [6] is discussed. We additionally incorporate contribution of meson excitations to the equations of motion. We also estimate the effects of the particle width. It is demonstrated that the inclusion of the baryon-baryon hole and baryon-antibaryon loop terms, if performed perturbatively, destroys the consistency of the model.Comment: 44 pages, 14 figures; corrected according to referee's remarks, version accepted for publication in Nucl. Phys.

Viscosity coefficients for hadron and quark-gluon phases

The shear ($\eta$) and bulk ($\zeta$) viscosities are calculated in a quasiparticle relaxation time approximation. The hadron phase is described within the relativistic mean field based model with scaled hadron masses and couplings. The quark phase is treated in terms of the heavy quark bag model fitted to the lattice data. A two-phase model allowing for the first order phase transition from the hadron phase to the strongly coupled quark gluon plasma is constructed by means of the Gibbs conditions. Temperature and baryon density dependence of the calculated viscosity-to-entropy ratios ($\eta/s$, $\zeta/s$) are analyzed and compared with those obtained in other models. Special attention is paid to the behavior of viscosity coefficients near the critical temperature, from both hadron and quark-gluon side. Effects of resonance widths on viscosities and viscosity-to-entropy ratios are estimated.Comment: 56 pages, 22 figure

Viscosity of hadron matter within relativistic mean-field based model with scaled hadron masses and couplings

The shear ($\eta$) and bulk ($\zeta$) viscosities are calculated in a quasiparticle relaxation time approximation for a hadron matter described within the relativistic mean-field based model with scaled hadron masses and couplings. Comparison with results of other models is presented. We demonstrate that a small value of the shear viscosity to entropy density ratio required for explaining a large elliptic flow observed at RHIC may be reached in the hadron phase. Large values of the bulk viscosity are noted in case of the baryon enriched matter.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures; minor clarifying change

Shear and bulk viscosities for pure glue matter

Shear $\eta$ and bulk $\zeta$ viscosities are calculated in a quasiparticle model within a relaxation time approximation for pure gluon matter. Below $T_c$ the confined sector is described within a quasiparticle glueball model. Particular attention is paid to behavior of the shear and bulk viscosities near $T_c$. The constructed equation of state reproduces the first-order phase transition for the glue matter. It is shown that with this equation of state it is possible to describe the temperature dependence of the shear viscosity to entropy ratio $\eta/s$ and the bulk viscosity to entropy ratio $\zeta/s$ in reasonable agreement with available lattice data but absolute values of the $\zeta/s$ ratio underestimate the upper limits of this ratio in the lattice measurements typically by an order of magnitude.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures; the published versio

Lattice QCD Constraints on the Nuclear Equation of State

Based on the quasi-particle description of the QCD medium at finite temperature and density we formulate the phenomenological model for the equation of state that exhibits crossover or the first order deconfinement phase transition. The models are constructed in such a way to be thermodynamically consistent and to satisfy the properties of the ground state nuclear matter comply with constraints from intermediate heavy--ion collision data. Our equations of states show quite reasonable agreement with the recent lattice findings on temperature and baryon chemical potential dependence of relevant thermodynamical quantities in the parameter range covering both the hadronic and quark--gluon sectors. The model predictions on the isentropic trajectories in the phase diagram are shown to be consistent with the recent lattice results. Our nuclear equations of states are to be considered as an input to the dynamical models describing the production and the time evolution of a thermalized medium created in heavy ion collisions in a broad energy range from SIS up to LHC.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figure

Lattice QCD Constraints on Hybrid and Quark Stars

A QCD-motivated dynamical-quasiparticle model with parameters adjusted to reproduce the lattice-QCD equation of state is extrapolated from region of high temperatures and moderate baryonic densities to the domain of high baryonic densities and zero temperature. The resulting equation of state matched with realistic hadronic equations of state predicts a phase transition into the quark phase at higher densities than those reachable in neutron star interiors. This excludes the possibility of the existence of hybrid (hadron-quark) stars. Pure quark stars are possible and have low masses, small radii and very high central densities. Similar results are obtained for a simple bag model with massive quarks, fitted to reproduce the same lattice results. Self-bound quark matter is also excluded within these models. Uncertainties in the present extrapolation re discussed. Comparison with standard bag models is made.Comment: 13 p., 8 figs., 7 tables, Version accepted by Phys. Rev.

Shear viscosity of the Quark-Gluon Plasma from a virial expansion

We calculate the shear viscosity $\eta$ in the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) phase within a virial expansion approach with particular interest in the ratio of $\eta$ to the entropy density $s$, i.e. $\eta/s$. The virial expansion approach allows us to include the interactions between the partons in the deconfined phase and to evaluate the corrections to a single-particle partition function. In the latter approach we start with an effective interaction with parameters fixed to reproduce thermodynamical quantities of QCD such as energy and/or entropy density. We also directly extract the effective coupling \ga_{\rm V} for the determination of $\eta$. Our numerical results give a ratio $\eta/s\approx 0.097$ at the critical temperature $T_{\rm c}$, which is very close to the theoretical bound of $1/(4\pi)$. Furthermore, for temperatures $T\leq 1.8 T_{\rm c}$ the ratio $\eta/s$ is in the range of the present experimental estimates $0.1-0.3$ at RHIC. When combining our results for $\eta/s$ in the deconfined phase with those from chiral perturbation theory or the resonance gas model in the confined phase we observe a pronounced minimum of $\eta/s$ close to the critical temperature $T_{\rm c}$.Comment: Published in Eur. Phys. J. C, 7 pages, 2 figures, 3 tabl