Microscopic model for rapid hadronization of supercooled Quark-Gluon Plasma

A new hadronization scenario is proposed where a central role is played by the chiral symmetry break-down in the expanding Quark-Gluon Plasma. This mechanism becomes efficient after the thermal freeze-out of the quark-antiquark system. The transition from the chiral-symmetric to broken state proceeds through the formation of multi-quark-antiquark clusters which later on split into hadrons. This transition is accompanied by the formation of domains of long-lived coherent pion field (Disoriented Chiral Condensates). This picture can be observed through multi-hadron correlations and enhanced production of lowp _t pions. We estimate time scales and spatial characteristics of chiral-symmetry breaking instabilities on the basis of an effective field-theoretical model.