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Johann Rafelski

Publications and source records attributed to Johann Rafelski.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
arXiv2015

Melting Hadrons, Boiling Quarks

In the context of the Hagedorn temperature half-centenary I describe our understanding of the hot phases of hadronic matter both below and above the Hagedorn temperature. The first part of the review addresses many frequently posed questions about properties of hadronic matter in different phases, phase transition and the exploration of quark-gluon plasma (QGP). The historical context of the discovery of QGP is shown and the role of strangeness and strange antibaryon signature of QGP illustrated. In the second part I discuss the corresponding theoretical ideas and show how experimental results can be used to describe the properties of QGP at hadronization. The material of this review is complemented by two early and unpublished reports containing the prediction of the different forms of hadron matter, and of the formation of QGP in relativistic heavy ion collisions, including the discussion of strangeness, and in particular strange antibaryon signature of QGP.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2015

Proposal for Resonant Detection of Relic Massive Neutrinos

We present a novel method for detecting the relic neutrino background that takes advantage of structured quantum degeneracy to amplify the drag force from neutrinos scattering off a detector. Developing this idea, we present a characterization of the present day relic neutrino distribution in an arbitrary frame, including the influence of neutrino mass and neutrino reheating by $e^+e^-$ annihilation. We present explicitly the neutrino velocity and de Broglie wavelength distributions for the case of an Earthbound observer. Considering that relic neutrinos could exhibit quantum liquid features at the present day temperature and density, we discuss the impact of neutrino fluid correlations on the possibility of resonant detection.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2014

Probing the quantum vacuum with ultra intense laser pulses

This article presents: 1) The theoretical background of strong field physics and vacuum structure and stability; 2) The instrumental developments in the area of pulse lasers and considers the physics case for ultra intense laser facilities; and 3) Discussion of the applied and fundamental uses of ultra-intense lasers.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2014

Relic Neutrino Freeze-out: Dependence on Natural Constants

Analysis of cosmic microwave background radiation fluctuations favors an effective number of neutrinos, $N_ν>3$. This motivates a reinvestigation of the neutrino freeze-out process. Here we characterize the dependence of $N_ν$ on the Standard Model (SM) parameters that govern neutrino freeze-out. We show that $N_ν$ depends on a combination $η$ of several natural constants characterizing the relative strength of weak interaction processes in the early Universe and on the Weinberg angle $\sin^2θ_W$. We determine numerically the dependence $N_ν(η,\sin^2θ_W)$ and discuss these results. The extensive numerical computations are made possible by two novel numerical procedures: a spectral method Boltzmann equation solver adapted to allow emerging chemical non-equilibrium, and a method to evaluate Boltzmann equation collision integrals that generates a smooth integrand.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2014

Quark-Gluon Plasma as the Possible Source of Cosmological Dark Radiation

The effective number of neutrinos, $N_{\text{eff}}$, obtained from CMB fluctuations accounts for all effectively massless degrees of freedom present in the Universe, including but not limited to the three known neutrinos. Using a lattice-QCD derived QGP equation of state, we constrain the observed range of $N_{\text{eff}}$ in terms of the the freeze-out of unknown degrees of freedom near to quark-gluon hadronization. We explore limits on the coupling of these particles, applying methods of kinetic theory. We present bounds on the coupling of such particles and discuss the implications of a connection between $N_{\text{eff}}$ and the QGP transformation for laboratory studies of QGP.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2014

Boltzmann Equation Solver Adapted to Emergent Chemical Non-equilibrium

We present a novel method to solve the spatially homogeneous and isotropic relativistic Boltzmann equation. We employ a basis set of orthogonal polynomials dynamically adapted to allow for emergence of chemical non-equilibrium. Two time dependent parameters characterize the set of orthogonal polynomials, the effective temperature $T(t)$ and phase space occupation factor $Υ(t)$. In this first paper we address (effectively) massless fermions and derive dynamical equations for $T(t)$ and $Υ(t)$ such that the zeroth order term of the basis alone captures the particle number density and energy density of each particle distribution. We validate our method and illustrate the reduced computational cost and the ability to easily represent final state chemical non-equilibrium by studying a model problem that is motivated by the physics of the neutrino freeze-out processes in the early Universe, where the essential physical characteristics include reheating from another disappearing particle component ($e^\pm$-annihilation).

math.NA↗
arXiv2014

Universal QGP Hadronization Conditions at RHIC and LHC

We address the principles governing QGP hadronization and particle production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. We argue that chemical non-equilibrium is required and show that once this condition is assumed a very good description of hadron production in collider RHIC and at LHC heavy ion experiments follows. We present results of our analysis as a function of centrality. Comparing most extreme experimental conditions we show that only the reaction volume and degree of strangeness phase space saturation change. We determine the universal QGP fireball hadronization conditions.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2013

Relic neutrinos: Physically consistent treatment of effective number of neutrinos and neutrino mass

We perform a model independent study of the neutrino momentum distribution at freeze-out, treating the freeze-out temperature as a free parameter. Our results imply that measurement of neutrino reheating, as characterized by the measurement of the effective number of neutrinos $N_ν$, amounts to the determination of the neutrino kinetic freeze-out temperature within the context of the standard model of particle physics where the number of neutrino flavors is fixed and no other massless (fractional) particles arise. At temperatures on the order of the neutrino mass, we show how cosmic background neutrino properties i.e. energy density, pressure, particle density, are modified in a physically consistent way as a function of neutrino mass and $N_ν$.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2013

Traveling Through the Universe: Back in Time to the Quark-Gluon Plasma Era

We survey the early history of the discovery of quark gluon plasma and the early history of the Universe, beginning with the present day and reaching deep into QGP and almost beyond. We introduce cosmological Universe dynamics and connect the different Universe epochs with one another. We describe some of the many remaining open questions that emerge.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2013

Interpretation of strange hadron production at LHC

We extend the SHM analysis of hadron production results showing here consistency with the increased experimental data set, stability of the fit with regard to inclusion of finite resonance widths and 2-star hyperon resonances. We present new results on strangeness yield as a function of centrality and present their interpretation in terms of QGP inspired model of strangeness abundance in the hadronizing fireball.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2013

Top anomalous magnetic moment and the two photon decay of Higgs

We compute the dependence of the Higgs to two-photon decay rate $Γ_{h\to γγ}$ on the top quark gyromagnetic factor $g_t$ in the heavy top limit and evaluate the expected change for one-loop SM correction to $g_t$. Our results are general and allow consideration of further modifications of $g_t$ and we predict the resultant $Γ_{h\to γγ}$.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2013

Hadron production and QGP Hadronization in Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=2.76$ TeV

We show that all central rapidity hadron yields measured in Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=2.76$ TeV are well described by the chemical non-equilibrium statistical hadronization model (SHM), where the chemically equilibrated QGP source breaks up directly into hadrons. SHM parameters are obtained as a function of centrality of colliding ions, and we compare CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) with Brookhaven National Laboratory Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) results. We predict yields of unobserved hadrons and address anti-matter production. The physical properties of the quark--gluon plasma fireball particle source show universality of hadronization conditions at LHC and RHIC.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2013

Connecting QGP-Heavy Ion Physics to the Early Universe

We discuss properties and evolution of quark-gluon plasma in the early Universe and compare to laboratory heavy ion experiments. We describe how matter and antimatter emerged from a primordial soup of quarks and gluons. We focus our discussion on similarities and differences between the early Universe and the laboratory experiments.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2013

Fugacity and Reheating of Primordial Neutrinos

We clarify in a quantitative way the impact that distinct chemical $T_c$ and kinetic $T_k$ freeze-out temperatures have on the reduction of the neutrino fugacity $Υ_ν$ below equilibrium, i.e. $Υ_ν<1$, and the increase of the neutrino temperature $T_ν$ via partial reheating. We establish the connection between $Υ_ν$ and $T_k$ via the modified reheating relation $T_ν(Υ_ν)/T_γ$, where $T_γ$ is the temperature of the background radiation. Our results demonstrate that one must introduce the chemical nonequilibrium parameter, i.e., the fugacity, $Υ_ν$, as an additional standard cosmological model parameter in the evaluation of CMB fluctuations as its value allows measurement of $T_k$.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2013

Higgs two-gluon decay and the top-quark chromomagnetic moment

We study the top quark chromomagnetic factor $κ_t$-dependence of the effective interaction ${\cal L}_{hgg}$ and apply the result to the case of Higgs two gluon decay rate $Γ_{h\to gg}$. Perturbative standard model provides $κ_t< 2$, and for the standard model value $Γ_{h\to gg}(κ_t)$ is suppressed by 9% as compared to $κ_t= 2$. We further show that in the leading order $Γ_{h\to gg}$ for $κ_t\simeq \pm 1.2$ can be very small due to complete cancelation between the top and bottom quark fluctuations. We discuss the extension of our results to $κ_t>2$ and consider potential paths to obtain experimental information for the $h\to gg$ rate.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2013

Compact Ultra Dense Matter Impactors

We study interactions of meteorlike compact ultradense objects (CUDO), having nuclear or greater density, with Earth and other rocky bodies in the Solar System as a possible source of information about novel forms of matter. We study the energy loss in CUDO puncture of the body and discuss differences between regular matter and CUDO impacts.

astro-ph.EP↗
arXiv2012

Acceleration and vacuum temperature

The quantum fluctuations of an "accelerated" vacuum state, that is vacuum fluctuations in the presence of a constant electromagnetic field, can be described by the temperature $\TEH$. Considering $\TEH$ for the gyromagnetic factor $g=1$ we show that $\TEH(g=1)=\THU$, where $\THU$ is the Unruh temperature experienced by an accelerated observer. We conjecture that both particle production and nonlinear field effects inherent in the Unruh accelerated observer case are described by the case $g=1$ QED of strong fields. We present rates of particle production for $g=0,1,2$ and show that the case $g=1$ is experimentally distinguishable from $g=0,2$. Therefore, either accelerated observers are distinguishable from accelerated vacuum or there is unexpected modification of the theoretical framework.

hep-ph↗