Random matrix study of the phase structure of QCD with two colors

Abstract

We apply a random matrix model to the study of the phase diagram of QCD with two colors, two flavors, and a small quark mass. Although the effects of temperature are only included schematically, this model reproduces most of the ground state predictions of chiral perturbation theory and also gives a qualitative picture of the phase diagram at all temperatures. It leads, however, to an unphysical behavior of the chiral order parameter and the baryon density in vacuum and does not support diquark condensation at arbitrarily high densities. A better treatment of temperature dependence leads to correct vacuum and small temperature properties. We compare our results at both high and low densities with the results of microscopic calculations using the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model and discuss the effects of large momentum scales on the variations of condensation fields with chemical potential.