Shell model versus liquid drop model for strangelets

Abstract

An ansatz for the curvature contribution to the density of states for massive quarks in a bag is given and shown to reproduce exact mode-filling calculations. A mass-formula for spherical lumps of 3-flavor quark matter is derived self-consistently from an asymptotic expansion within the MIT bag model, taking into account bulk, surface, and curvature contributions. Shell model calculations are performed for a variety of strange quark masses and bag constants, and the results shown to match nicely with the asymptotic expansion.