D mesons at finite temperature and density in the PNJL model

Understand

We study D meson resonances in hot, dense quark matter within the NJL model and its Polyakov-loop extension.

• We show that the mass splitting between D^+ and D^- mesons is moderate, not in excess of 100 MeV.
• When the decay channel into quasifree quarks opens (Mott effect) at densities above twice saturation density, the decay width reaches rapidly the value of 200 MeV which entails a spectral broadening sufficient to open J/psi dissociation processes.
• Contrary to results from hadronic mean-field theories, the chiral quark model does not support the scenario of a dropping D meson masses so that scenarios for J/psi dissociation by quark rearrangement built on the lowering of the threshold for this process in a hot and dense medium have to be reconsidered and should account for the spectral broadening.