An effective lagrangian approach to the quark-hadron phase boundary

We consider an effective lagrangian approach to the quark-hadron phase transition at both finite temperature T and finite baryon chemical potential μ. In addition to the pressure equilibrium point (Tc, μc), we find critical points (Tx, μx) in the phase diagram beyond which the hadron phase no longer exists. We find a substantial (model-dependent) region of super-heated hadron phase between (Tc, μc) and (Tx, μx). This may have important consequences for searches for quark matter in heavy-ion collision. (orig.)