Physics of strongly coupled quark-gluon plasma

This review covers our current understanding of strongly coupled Quark-Gluon Plasma (sQGP), especially theoretical progress in: (i) explaining the RHIC data by hydrodynamics; (ii) describing lattice data using electric-magnetic duality; (iii) understanding of gauge-string duality known as AdS/CFT and its application for “conformal” plasma. In view of the interdisciplinary nature of the subject, we include a brief introduction into several topics “for pedestrians”. Some fundamental questions addressed are: Why is sQGP such a good liquid? What is the nature of (de)confinement and what do we know about “magnetic” objects creating it? Do they play any important role in sQGP physics? Can we understand the AdS/CFT predictions, from the gauge theory side? Can they be tested experimentally? Can AdS/CFT duality help us understand rapid equilibration/entropy production? Can we work out a complete dynamical “gravity dual” to heavy ion collisions?     

Astrobiology: a respectable new science

Holographic quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is an extra-dimensional approach to modelling hadrons, the bound states of the strong interactions. In holographic models, the extra spatial dimension creates a waveguide for fields, and the discrete towers of modes propagating in that waveguide are interpreted as hadronic resonances. These models are motivated by the AdS/CFT correspondence, which is a duality that relates theories in different numbers of spatial dimensions. Holographic models have the potential to provide a better understanding of strongly interacting systems of quarks and gluons, as well as unconventional superconductors and other nonperturbative systems.     

Holographic models of the scalar sector of QCD

We investigate the AdS/QCD duality for the two-point correlation functions of the lowest dimension scalar meson and scalar glueball operators,in the case of the Soft Wall holographic model of QCD.Masses and decay constants as well as gluon condensates are compared to their QCD estimates.In particular,the role of the boundary conditions for the bulk-to-boundary propagators is emphasized.     

Holographic Duals of Quark Gluon Plasmas with Unquenched Flavors

We review the construction of gravitational solutions holographically dual to N=1 quiver gauge theories with dynamical flavor multiplets.We focus on the D3-D7 construction and consider the finite temperature,finite quark chemical potential case where there is a charged black hole in the dual solution.Discussed physical outputs of the model include its thermodynamics (with susceptibilities) and general hydrodynamic properties.     

Holographic models of the scalar sector of QCD

We investigate the AdS/QCD duality for the two-point correlation functions of the lowest dimension scalar meson and scalar glueball operators,in the case of the Soft Wall holographic model of QCD.Masses and decay constants as well as gluon condensates are compared to their QCD estimates.In particular,the role of the boundary conditions for the bulk-to-boundary propagators is emphasized.     

Parton dynamics and hadronization from the sQGP

The hadronization of an expanding partonic fireball is studied within the Parton-Hadron-String Dynamics (PHSD) approach which is based on a dynamical quasiparticle model (DQPM) matched to reproduce lattice QCD results in thermodynamic equilibrium. Apart from strong parton interactions the expansion and development of collective flow is found to be driven by strong gradients in the parton mean-fields. An analysis of the elliptic flow v₂ demonstrates a linear correlation with the spatial eccentricity ? as in the case of ideal hydrodynamics. The hadronization occurs by quark-antiquark fusion or 3 quark/3 antiquark recombination which is described by covariant transition rates. Since the dynamical quarks become very massive, the formed resonant ‘pre-hadronic’ color-dipole states ( or qqq) are of high invariant mass, too, and sequentially decay to the groundstate meson and baryon octets increasing the total entropy. This solves the entropy problem in hadronization in a natural way. Hadronic particle ratios turn out to be in line with those from a grand-canonical partition function at temperature T≈170 MeV.     

Hadrons from a hard wall AdS/QCD model

We review a recent work on masses of mesons and nucleons within a hard wall model of holographic QCD in a unified approach.In order to treat meson and nucleon properties on the same footing,we introduced the same infrared(IR)cut for both sectors.In framework of present approach,the best fit to the experimental data is achieved introducing the anomalous dimension for baryons.     

Quark Gluon Condensate, Virtuality and Susceptibility of QCD Vacuum

We study vacuum of QCD in this work. The structure of non-local quark vacuum condensate, values of various local quark and gluon vacuum condensates, quark-gluon mixed vacuum condensate, quark and gluon virtuality in QCD vacuum state, quark dynamical mass and susceptibility of QCD vacuum state to external field are predicted by use of the solutions of Dyson-Schwinger equations in ＂rainbow＂ approximation with a modeling gluon propagator and three different sets of quark-quark interaction parameters. Our theoretical predictions are in good agreement with the correspondent empirical values used widely in literature, and many other theoretical calculations. The quark propagator and self-energy functions are also obtained from the numerical solutions of Dyson Schwinger equations. This work is centrally important for studying non-perturbative QCD, and has many important applications both in particle and nuclear physics.     

Hadrons from a hard wall AdS/QCD model

We review a recent work on masses of mesons and nucleons within a hard wall model of holographic QCD in a unified approach.In order to treat meson and nucleon properties on the same footing,we introduced the same infrared （IR） cut for both sectors.In framework of present approach,the best fit to the experimental data is achieved introducing the anomalous dimension for baryons.     

Quark Gluon Condensate,Virtuality and Susceptibility of QCD Vacuum

We study vacuum of QCD in this work. The structure of non-local quark vacuum condensate, values of various local quark and gluon vacuum condensates, quark-gluon mixed vacuum condensate, quark and gluon virtuality in QCD vacuum state, quark dynamical mass and susceptibility of QCD vacuum state to external field are predicted by use of the solutions of Dyson-Schwinger equations in “rainbow” approximation with a modeling gluon propagator and three different sets of quark-quark interaction parameters. Our theoretical predictions are in good agreement with the correspondent empirical values used widely in literature, and many other theoretical calculations. The quark propagator and self-energy functions are also obtained from the numerical solutions of Dyson-Schwinger equations. This work is centrally important for studying non-perturbative QCD, and has many important applications both in particle and nuclear physics.     

[Review] An Introduction to AdS/CFT Correspondence forPhenomenologists

We give a brief introduction to the AdS/CFT correspondence and its application to QCD physics, especially its application in the study of quark-gluon-plasma(QGP) formed in the relativistic heavy ion collision (RHIC). This review is based on the talksgiven in several schools and programs for the phenomenologists working on nuclear physicsand particle physics.     

QCD equation of state: Physical quark masses and asymptotic temperatures

Within a phenomenological quasiparticle model, the quark mass and temperature dependence of the QCD equation of state is discussed and compared with lattice QCD results. Different approximations for the quasiparticle dispersion relations are employed, scaling properties of the equation of state with quark mass and deconfinement temperature are investigated and a continuation to asymptotically large temperatures is presented.     

QCD thermodynamics at zero and non-zero density

We present results on the QCD equation of state, obtained with two different improved dynamical staggered fermion actions and almost physical quark masses. Lattice cut-off effects are discussed in detail as results for three different lattice spacings are available now, i.e. results have been obtained on lattices with temporal extent of N_τ = 4, 6 and 8. Furthermore we discuss the Taylor expansion approach to non-zero baryon chemical potential by means of an expansion of the pressure. We use the expansion coefficients to calculate various fluctuations and correlations among hadronic charges. We find that the correlations reproduce the qualitative behavior of the resonance gas model below T_c and start to agree with the free gas predictions for T1.5T_c.     

Lattice results on QCD at high temperature and non-zero baryon number density

Studies of QCD thermodynamics on the lattice now can be performed with an almost realistic quark mass spectrum and on quite large lattices. This will soon allow a controlled extrapolation to the continuum limit. We present recent results on the QCD equation of state, discuss deconfining and chiral symmetry restoring aspects of the QCD transition at vanishing chemical potential and show results on baryon number, electric charge and strangeness fluctuations. We briefly discuss the generic structure of Taylor expansion coefficients in the vicinity of the chiral phase transition and comment on the determination of the anticipated chiral critical point within the framework of Taylor expansions of the QCD partition function.     

Scalar glueball in a soft-wall model of AdS/QCD

The scalar glueball is investigated in a soft-wall model of AdS/QCD.Constraints of the mass of the scalar glueball are given through an analysis of a relation between the bulk mass and the anomalous dimension.The mass of the ground scalar glueball is located at 0.96_(-0.07)~(+0.04)GeVmGl.36_(-0.10)~(+0.05)GeV.In terms of a background dilaton fieldΦ(z)=cz~2,the two-point correlation function for the scalar gluon operator is obtained.The two-point correlation function at△=4 gives a different behavior compared with the one in QCD.     

Entropic destruction of heavy quarkonium in a rotating hot and dense medium from holography

Previous studies have indicated that the peak of the quarkonium entropy at the deconfinement transition can be related to the entropic force, which would induce the dissociation of heavy quarkonium. In this study, we investigated the entropic force in a rotating hot and dense medium using AdS/CFT correspondence. It was found that the inclusion of angular velocity increases the entropic force, thus enhancing quarkonium dissociation, while chemical potential has the same effect. The results imply that the quarkonium dissociates easier in rotating medium compared with the static case.     

Trouble finding the optimal AdS/QCD

In the bottom-up approach to AdS/QCD based on a five-dimensional gravity dilaton action the exponential of the dilaton field is usually identified as the strong or 't Hooft coupling. There is currently no model known which fits the measurements of the running coupling and lattice results for pressure at the same time. With a one parametric toy model we demonstrate the effect of fitting the pressure on the coupling and vice versa.