Quark Matter in the Chiral Color Dielectric Model

Abstract

We study the equation of state (EOS) of quark matter at zero temperature, using the Color Dielectric Model (CDM) to describe confinement. Sensible results are obtained in the version of the CDM for which confinement is imposed {\it smoothly}. The two--phases version of the model turns out to give unrealistic results for the EOS. Chiral symmetry plays a marginal rôle and the quarks are massive till high densities. The deconfinement phase transition is smooth and unlikely to be first order. Instabilities of the quark matter and the gap equation are discussed.

Comments: 17 pages, REVTeX, 5 uuencoded figures