$T$-Matrix Approach to Strongly Coupled QGP

Abstract

Based on a thermodynamic $T$-matrix approach we extract the potential $V$ between two static charges in the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) from fits to the pertinent lattice-QCD free energy. With suitable relativistic corrections we utilize this new potential to compute heavy-quark transport coefficients and compare the results to previous calculations using either $F$ or $U$ as potential. We then discuss a generalization of the $T$-matrix re-summation to a "matrix $\log$" re-summation of $t$-channel diagrams for the grand partition function of the QGP in the Luttinger-Ward skeleton diagram formalism. With $V$ as a non-perturbative driving kernel in the light-parton sector, we obtain the QGP equation of state from fits to lattice-QCD data. The resulting light-parton spectral functions are characterized by large thermal widths at small momenta, indicating the dissolution of quasi-particles in a strongly coupled QGP.

4 pages, 6 figures, contribution to the proceedings of the Strangeness in Quark Matter conference (June 27 to July 1, 2016, Berkeley, CA, USA)