Meson Correlators at Finite Temperature

Abstract

We evaluate equal time point to point spatial correlation functions of mesonic currents at finite temperature. For this purpose we consider the QCD vacuum structure in terms of quark antiquark condensates and their fluctuations in terms of an irreducible four point structure of the vacuum. The temperature dependence of quark condensates is modeled using chiral perturbation theory for low temperatures and lattice QCD simulations near the critical temperature.We first consider the propagation of quarks in a condensate medium at finite temperature. We then determine the correlation functions in a hot medium. Parameters such as mass, coupling constant and threshold energy are deduced from the finite temperature correlators. We find that all of them decrease close to the critical temperature.