Work

Fluctuations and Correlations of Quark Spin in Hot and Dense QCD Matter

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In this Letter, we examine the impact of QCD phase transitions on the quark spin fluctuations and correlations. We propose the quark-antiquark correlation, which relates to the vector meson spin alignment and the Λ-Λ[over ¯] correlation, and can be used as a novel probe of the critical end point (CEP) in the QCD phase diagram. Using the Nambu-Jona-Lanisio model, we qualitatively study the properties of quark-antiquark spin correlations. Our findings reveal a peak structure near the CEP of the chiral phase transition, which may serve as an experimental signature of the CEP and account for the non-monotonic behavior of ϕ meson alignment at low collision energies observed recently in experiments.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/g1bh-85h4

Authors: Hao-Lei Chen, Wei-jie Fu, Xu-Guang Huang, Guo-Liang Ma

Institutions: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Fudan University, Dalian University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: High-Energy Particle Collisions Research

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,750

Funders: Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai, National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China, Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province