Strangeness and charm in QCD matter

Abstract

Strangeness and charm degrees of freedom in strongly interacting matter are discussed within a quasi-particle model adjusted to lattice QCD data. The model allows to extrapolate lattice QCD data to large baryo-chemical potential. We outline the thermal evolution of matter in the early universe at and slightly after confinement and comment briefly on charm dynamics in relativistic heavy-ion collisions.

Comments: invited talk at Strangeness in Qaurk Matter 2004, Cape Town, Sep. 15 - 20, 2004