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Lu-Qi Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Lu-Qi Zhang.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Compact star and compact star matter properties from a baryonic extended linear sigma model with explicit chiral symmetry breaking

Based on a baryonic extended linear sigma model including explicit chiral symmetry breaking effect, the structure of neutron stars with the emergence of hyperons is investigated using the relativistic mean field approximation. It is found that, except for the lightest scalar meson $\sigma$ whose structure is not well understood so far, the vacuum mass spectra of relevant hadrons and nuclear matter properties around saturation density can be well reproduced. Nevertheless, based on the present model and the applied relativistic mean field approach, we found that, to have a realistic mass-radius relation of neutron stars, the $\pi N$ sigma term $\sigma_{\pi N}$ that denotes the contribution of explicit symmetry breaking should deviate from its empirical values at vacuum. Specifically, $\sigma_{\pi N}\sim -600$ MeV, rather than $(32\text{--}89) \rm \ MeV$ at vacuum. With an appropriate choice of $\sigma_{\pi N}$ and $K(n_0)$, our framework can give a more observationally favored mass-radius relation of neutron stars with the emergence of hyperons, suggesting a possible density dependence of the low energy constants, at least within the present leading order framework with the relativistic mean field approach. The present result provides a new perspective on the relation between microscopic explicit chiral symmetry breaking in dense matter and macroscopic structure of compact stars and calls for more systematic treatments beyond leading order relativistic mean field calculation.

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Peak of sound velocity, scale symmetry, and nuclear force in baryonic matter

The sound velocity in homogeneous matter has fundamental significance as it relates to the stiffness of the equation of state of compact star matter. In this work, we investigate the density evolution of the sound velocity in homogeneous {neutron matter at zero temperature} by using an effective field theory implemented with a conformal compensator -- the nonlinear realization of scale symmetry -- regarded as the source of the lightest scalar meson. We find that the peak of sound velocity emerges naturally in the intermediate density region, $(1-2.5)n_0$, without resorting to any transitions from hadron to exotic configurations or introducing new degrees of freedom. This phenomenon is not found in the Walecka-type models where the sigma meson is included in the linear-type approach, therefore it is an intrinsic character of the dilaton compensator approach through the matching of the QCD trace anomaly; a mechanism has not been found before, and it connects to the character of the lightest scalar meson. In addition, these observations shed light on how the hidden scale symmetry manifests in the nuclear medium from the unitarity limit in dilute matter to the dilaton limit in compact star matter.

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Nuclear matter properties from chiral-scale effective theory including a dilatonic scalar meson

Chiral effective theory has become a powerful tool for studying the low-energy properties of QCD. In this work, we apply an extended chiral effective theory -- chiral-scale effective theory -- including a dilatonic scalar meson to study nuclear matter and find that the properties around saturation density can be well reproduced. Compared to the traditionally used Walecka-type models in nuclear matter studies, our approach improves the behavior of symmetry energy and the incompressibility coefficient in describing empirical data without introducing additional freedoms. Moreover, the predicted neutron star structures fall within the constraints of GW170817, PSR J0740+6620, and PSR J0030+0451, while the maximum neutron star mass can reach about $~3M_{\odot}$ with a pure hadronic phase. Additionally, we find that symmetry patterns of the effective theory significantly impact neutron star structures. %In chiral-scale effective theory, effective operators are well organized by chiral-scale orders and freedoms induced by QCD symmetry patterns. We believe that introducing this type of theory into nuclear matter studies can lead to a deeper understanding of QCD, nuclear matter, and compact astrophysical objects.

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