QCD matter

Quark matter refers to any of a number of phases of matter built out of quarks and gluons. These constituents of quark matter carry colour charges and interact through Quantum chromodynamics. The scale of this theory, ΛQCD is of the order of a few hundred MeV (ie, about 10^{12} K). In this article low temperature (or chemical potential) will mean energies lower than this.

Related Topics:
Phases - Quark - Gluon - Colour charge - Quantum chromodynamics - MeV - Temperature - Chemical potential

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Hot quark matter called the quark-gluon plasma is expected to have filled the universe till about 20 or 30 microseconds after the big bang. Some colder phases such as strange matter and colour superconductors have been conjectured as present day constituents of stars denser even than neutron stars. The normal phase of quark matter is what we see everywhere else. In this phase quarks are confined within hadrons, either by partnering with an anti-quark to make a meson, or by joining with two other quarks to build a baryon.

Related Topics:
Quark-gluon plasma - Universe - Big bang - Strange matter - Colour superconductor - Neutron star - Normal phase of quark matter - Quark - Confined - Hadrons - Meson - Baryon

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quark matter. The equations of QCD predict that a sea of quarks and gluons should be formed at high temperature and density. What are the properties of this phase of matter?}}

Related Topics:
Quark matter - Sea of quarks and gluons - Phase of matter

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