Free energy of spherical QCD bubbles

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.47.3079· OSTI ID:6704351

Kajantie, K ^[1]; Potvin, J ^[2]; Rummukainen, K ^[3]

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1. Institute for Theoretical Physics (ITP), University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-4030 (United States)
2. Department of Science and Mathematics, Parks College of Saint Louis University, Cahokia, Illinois 62206 (United States)
3. CERN/TH, 1211 Geneve (Switzerland)

We discuss the free energy of spherical bubbles of hadronic (quark-gluon plasma) matter in metastable equilibrium in a quark-gluon plasma (hadronic matter) at a fixed temperature [ital T][lt][ital T][sub [ital c]] ([ital T][gt][ital T][sub [ital c]]). We derive an expression for the effective interface tension written in terms of the bubble's radius [ital R], namely, [alpha]([ital R])=[alpha]([infinity])/[1+2[ital d]/[ital R]], where [ital d] is a parameter related to the surface entropy of a planar interface. We argue that this formula should be valid in the case of expanding macroscopic bubbles as well. We also estimate the value of the contribution of curvature to the free energy and explore the consequences of such a radius dependence on the dynamics of the cosmological phase transition.

• OSTI ID: 6704351
• Journal Information: Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States) Vol. 47:7; ISSN 0556-2821; ISSN PRVDAQ
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

662230* -- Quantum Chromodynamics-- (1992-)
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
COSMOLOGY
CRITICAL TEMPERATURE
ENERGY
ENTROPY
EQUILIBRIUM
FREE ENERGY
MATTER
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA
QUARK MATTER
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE