Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: We present a calculation of $\ensuremath{\eta}/s$ for the meson gas (zero baryon number), with the viscosity computed within unitarized next-to-leading-order chiral perturbation theory, and confirm the observation that $\ensuremath{\eta}/s$ decreases towards the possible phase transition to a quark-gluon plasma/liquid. The value is somewhat higher than previously estimated in leading-order $\ensuremath{\chi}\mathrm{PT}$. We also examine the case of atomic Argon gas to check the discontinuity of $\ensuremath{\eta}/s$ across a first-order phase transition. Our results suggest employing this dimensionless number, sometimes called KSS number (in analogy with other ratios in fluid mechanics such as Reynolds number or Prandtl number) to pin down the phase transition and critical end point to a crossover in strongly interacting nuclear matter between the hadron gas and quark and gluon plasma/liquid.
Authors: Antonio Dobado, Felipe J. Llanes-Estrada, Juan M. Torres-Rincon
Institution: Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2112456656