Phase diagram of a matter with a Skyrme-like scalar interaction

The equation of state and phase diagram of strongly interacting matter composed of alpha particles are studied in the mean-field approximation. The particle interactions are included via a Skyrme-like mean field, containing both attractive and repulsive terms. The model parameters are found by fitting the values of binding energy and baryon density in the ground state of alpha matter, obtained from microscopic calculations by Clark and Wang [Ann. Phys. (NY) 40, 127 (1966)]. Thermodynamic quantities of alpha matter are calculated in the broad domains of temperature and baryon density, which can be reached in heavy-ion collisions at intermediate energies. The model predicts both first-order liquid-gas phase transition and Bose-Einstein condensation of alpha particles. We present the profiles of scaled variance, sound velocity, and isochoric heat capacity along the isentropic trajectories of alpha matter. Strong density fluctuations are predicted in the vicinity of the critical point at temperature T-c approximate to 14 MeV and density n(c)( )approximate to 0.012 fm(-3).

Automated summary

In this study, the equation of state and phase diagram of strongly interacting matter composed of alpha particles were investigated using the mean-field approximation, with particle interactions described by a Skyrme-like mean field containing attractive and repulsive terms. Model parameters were determined by fitting binding energy and baryon density values obtained from microscopic calculations, predicting first-order liquid-gas phase transition and Bose-Einstein condensation of alpha particles. Strong density fluctuations were predicted near the critical point at approximately 14 MeV and 0.012 fm(-3) density.