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A chiral crystal in cold QCD matter at intermediate densities?

R. Rapp·E. Shuryak·I. Zahed
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Abstract

The analogue of Overhauser (particle-hole) pairing in electronic systems (spin-density waves with non-zero total momentum $Q$) is analyzed in finite-density QCD for 3 colors and 2 flavors, and compared to the color-superconducting BCS ground state (particle-particle pairing, $Q$=0). The calculations are based on effective nonperturbative four-fermion interactions acting in both the scalar diquark as well as the scalar-isoscalar quark-hole ('$σ$') channel. Within the Nambu-Gorkov formalism we set up the coupled channel problem including multiple chiral density wave formation, and evaluate the resulting gaps and free energies. Employing medium-modified instanton-induced 't Hooft interactions, as applicable around $μ_q\simeq 0.4$ GeV (or 4 times nuclear saturation density), we find the 'chiral crystal phase' to be competitive with the color superconductor.

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R. Rapp, E. Shuryak, I. Zahed. 2000-08-18. A chiral crystal in cold QCD matter at intermediate densities?. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.63.034008

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