Effects of equilibrium coexisting phases in the first-order chiral transition within the Linear sigma model with quarks

The first order chiral phase transition for quark matter with flavor imbalance is studied using the Linear sigma model with quarks, also known as Quark-meson model. Special attention is paid to the role of the scalar isovector meson. The general consensus presently is that the chiral transition changes from a smooth crossover to first-order at low temperatures. This transition is assumed to be discontinuous, with unstable or metastable intermediate states. However, if multiple charges are simultaneously conserved the system could undergo a continuous change through a coexistence of equilibrium states. Under such assumption the bulk properties are analyzed and several remarkable effects for the speed of sound and the susceptibilities are stressed.