Precursor of Color Superconductivity in Hot Quark Matter

Abstract

We investigate possible precursory phenomena of color superconductivity in quark matter at finite temperature T with use of a simple Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model. It is found that the fluctuating pair field exists with a prominent strength even well above the critical temperature T_c. We show that the collective pair field has a complex energy located in the second Riemann sheet, which approaches the origin as T is lowered to T_c. We discuss the possible relevance of the precursor to the observables to be detected in heavy ion collisions.

Comments: 5 pages, 3 figures, version to appear in Phys. Rev. D. Discussions are enlarged on the physical origin of the large fluctuation of the pair field and its phenomenological consequences. References are added