We extend the recently developed quantum van der Waals quarkyonic matter to non-zero isospin asymmetries by utilizing the two-component van der Waals equation with a generalized excluded volume prescription. The isospin dependence of van der Waals interaction parameters is determined by constraints on the symmetry energy, slope of the symmetry energy, and nuclear ground state properties. We find that the speed of sound has a peak for all values of the asymmetry parameter, signifying a transition to quarkyonic matter. The quarkyonic matter onset density is found to have a mild dependence on isospin asymmetry, with specific details influenced by the isospin dependence of the repulsive interactions. We also incorporate leptonic degrees of freedom and explore the neutron star matter equation of state, calculating mass-radius relations and tidal properties of neutron stars. We find that quarkyonic matter supports heavy neutron stars with a maximum mass of at least 2.6 solar masses. We observe quantitatively different behavior for the excluded volume cases of isospin-blind ($b_{n}=b_{pn}$) and isospin-dependent ($b_{n} \neq b_{pn}$) repulsion, the latter being preferred by observational constraints.

Both hot QCD matter and extremely strong electromagnetic fields are generated in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. We employ the transport model and the equivalent photon approximation (EPA) to study charmonium hadroproduction and photoproduction in nucleus-nucleus collisions, respectively. In photoproduction, quasi-real photons may interact with the whole nucleus or individual nucleons, which is called the coherent and incoherent processes, respectively. The typical momentum of charmonium produced in two processes is located in $p_T\lesssim 1/R_A$ and $p_T\lesssim 1/R_N$, where $R_A$ and $R_N$ are the radii of nucleus and the nucleon. Both kinds of photoproduction and also hadroproduction are considered to calculate charmonium production in different transverse momentum bins, rapidity bins, and collision centralities, incorporating modifications from hot QCD matter and initial cold nuclear matter effects. Our calculations explain experimental data about charmonium nuclear modification factors and the production cross-section in ultra-peripheral collisions. Charmonium nuclear modification is far above the unit at extremely low $p_T$ ($p_T < 0.1$ GeV/c) in peripheral collisions with centrality 70-90\%, attributed to coherent photoproduction.

Motivated by the recent experimental developments, the Pom-CQM model of the $\gamma + N \to J/\psi + N$ reaction of Lee et al. [Eur. Phys. J. A. 58, 252 (2022)] and Sakinah et al. [Phys. Rev. C. 109, 065204 (2024)] has been applied to predict the exclusive $J/\psi$ photo-production on nuclei ($A$). Within the multiple scattering theory, the calculations have been performed by including the impulse amplitude $T^{\rm IMP}_{J/\psi A,\gamma A}$ and the $J/\psi$-nucleus final state interaction (FSI) amplitude $T^{\rm FSI}_{J/\psi A,\gamma A}$. For the deuteron target, $T^{\rm IMP}_{J/\psi d,\gamma d}$ is calculated exactly using the wave function generated from the realistic nucleon-nucleon potentials. It is found that, near the threshold region, the $J/\psi$ photo-production cross sections depend sensitively on the $d$-state of the deuteron wave function. The FSI amplitude $T^{\rm FSI}_{J/\psi A,\gamma A}$ is calculated using the first-order optical potential constructed from the $J/\psi$-$N$ scattering amplitude generated from the employed Pom-CQM model. It turns out that the FSI has significant effects in the large momentum-transfer region. By using the conventional fixed scatter approximation (FSA) and the nuclear form factors from the variational Monte-Carlo (VMC) calculations of Lonardoni et al. [Phys. Rev.C. 96, 024326 (2017)], the cross sections of the $J/\psi$ photo-production on ${^4\rm He}$, ${^{16}\rm O}$, and ${^{40}\rm Ca}$ are also predicted for future experimental investigations at JLab and EIC.

The proxy-SU(3) symmetry predicts, in a parameter-free way, based only on the Pauli principle and the short-range nature of the nucleon-nucleon interaction, non-vanishing values of the collective variable gamma almost everywhere across the nuclear chart. Substantial triaxiality with gamma between 15 and 45 degrees is proved to be expected along horizontal and vertical stripes on the nuclear chart, covering the nucleon numbers 22-26, 34-48, 74-80, 116-124, 172-182. Empirical support for these stripes is found by collecting all even-even nuclei for which the first two excited 2+ states are known, along with the B(E2)s connecting them, as well as the second 2+ state to the ground state. The stripes are related to regions in which oblate SU(3) irreducible representations appear, bearing similarity to the appearance of triaxiality within the SU(3)* dynamical symmetry of the interacting boson model-2. Detailed comparisons of the proxy-SU(3) predictions to the data and to predictions by state-of-the-art Monte Carlo shell model calculations for deformed N=94, 96, 98 isotones in the rare earth region show good overall agreement, with the exception of Z=70 and N=94, which correspond to fully symmetric proxy-SU(3) irreps, suggesting that the latter are an artifact of the method which can be amended by considering the influence of the neighboring irreps.

We study the evolution of the total binding energy (TBE) and pairing energy of Pb, Hg and Ar isotopes, as a function of the nuclear deformation. As for the nuclear model, we exploit a deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in the continuum (DRHBc), and a deformed Skyrme Hartree-Fock plus BCS model. It is found that the dependence of pairing energy on the deformation is strongly correlated to that of the mean field energy, which is obtained by subtracting the pairing energy from the TBE; in other words, the energy minimum characterized by a large negative mean field energy has a smaller negative pairing energy or, equivalently, a smaller positive pairing gap, while a stronger pairing energy is found in the region away from the minimum of the total energy. Consequently, the two energies show an anti-symmetric feature in their deformation dependence, although the energy scales are very different. Moreover, since the pairing energy has a negative sign with respect to to the pairing gap, the evolution of mean field energy follows closely that of the pairing gap. This implies that the pairing energy (or pairing gap) and the mean field energy talk to each other and work together along the potential energy curve to determine the energy minimum and/or the local minimum.

We theoretically investigate the Casimir effect originating from Dirac fields in finite-density matter under a magnetic field. In particular, we focus on quark fields in the magnetic dual chiral density wave (MDCDW) phase as a possible inhomogeneous ground state of interacting Dirac-fermion systems. In this system, the distance dependence of Casimir energy shows a complex oscillatory behavior by the interplay between the chemical potential, magnetic field, and inhomogeneous ground state. By decomposing the total Casimir energy into contributions of each Landau level, we elucidate what types of Casimir effects are realized from each Landau level: the lowest or some types of higher Landau levels lead to different behaviors of Casimir energies. Furthermore, we point out characteristic behaviors due to level splitting between different fermion flavors, i.e., up/down quarks. These findings provide new insights into Dirac-fermion (or quark) matter with a finite thickness.

Recent literature on core-collapse supernovae suggests that a black hole (BH) can form within $\sim 1$ s of shock revival, while still culminating in a successful supernova. We refer to these as black hole supernovae, as they are distinct from other BH formation channels in both timescale and impact on the explosion. We simulate these events self-consistently from core-collapse until $20\text{-}50$ days after collapse using three axisymmetric models of a $60$ M$_\odot$ zero-age main sequence progenitor star and investigate how the composition of the ejecta is impacted by the BH formation. We employ Skyrme-type equations of state (EOSs) and vary the uncertain nucleonic effective mass, which affects the pressure inside the proto-neutron star through the thermal part of the EOS. This results in different BH formation times and explosion energies at BH formation, yielding final explosion energies between $0.06\text{-}0.72\times 10^{51}$ erg with $21.8\text{-}23.3$ M$_\odot$ of ejecta, of which $0\text{-}0.018$ M$_\odot$ is $^{56}$Ni. Compared to expectations from 1D simulations, we find a more nuanced EOS dependence of the explosion dynamics, the mass of the BH remnant, and the elemental composition of the ejecta. We investigate why the explosions survive despite the massive overburden and link the shape of the diagnostic energy curve and character of the ejecta evolution to the progenitor structure.

We develop a comprehensive analytic framework for jet quenching in QCD media, based on a medium-induced parton cascade sourced by collinear virtual splittings. We show that the energy flow out of the jet cone, driven by turbulent gluon cascades, is governed by a non-linear rate equation that resums gluon splittings at arbitrary angles and is enhanced by the medium length, $L$. The solution of this equation sets the initial condition for a non-linear DGLAP-like evolution equation, which describes the collinear early vacuum cascade resolved by the medium at angles exceeding the medium resolution angle, $\theta_c$. For asymptotic jet energies, the medium-induced cascade displays an exponential behavior that generalizes the Poisson-like distribution of parton energy loss. This formulation enables the resummation of leading contributions in $\alpha_s \ln (1/R)$, and $\alpha_s \ln (R / \theta_c)$, and powers of $\alpha_s L$. We briefly explore the limit of strong quenching, where analytic treatments are feasible, offering insights into the impact of parton cascades on jet quenching. These results provide guidance for future numerical simulations and analytical investigations.

Masses of the singly heavy baryons (SHBs), composed of a heavy quark and a light diquark, are studied from the viewpoints of heavy-quark spin symmetry (HQSS) and chiral-symmetry restoration at finite temperature. We consider the light diquarks with spin-parity $J^P=0^\pm$ and $1^\pm$. Medium corrections to the SHBs are provided through the diquarks whereas the heavy quark is simply regarded as a spectator. The chiral dynamics of the diquark are described by the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model having (pseudo)scalar-type and (axial)vector-type four-point interactions and the six-point ones responsible for the $U(1)_A$ axial anomaly. The divergences are handled by means of the three-dimensional proper-time regularization with both ultraviolet and infrared cutoffs included, in order to eliminate unphysical imaginary parts. As a result, the mass degeneracies between the parity partners of all the SHBs are predicted in accordance with the chiral restoration. In particular, the HQS-doublet SHBs exhibit clear mass degeneracies due to the absence of the direct anomaly effects. We also predict a mass degeneracy of $\Sigma_c$ and $\Omega_c$ above the pseudocritical temperature $T_{\rm pc}$ of chiral restoration, which results in a peculiar mass hierarchy for positive-parity HQS-doublet SHBs where $\Xi_c'$ becomes heavier than $\Omega_c$ Besides, it is found that the decay width of $\Sigma_c\to\Lambda_c\pi$ vanishes above $T_{\rm pc}$ reflecting a closing of the threshold. The predicted modifications of masses and decay widths of the SHBs are expected to provide future heavy-ion collision experiments and lattice simulations with useful information on chiral dynamics of the diquarks.

Recent observations of exotic hadrons have been stimulating the theoretical investigation of the internal structure of hadrons. While all hadrons are eventually composed of quarks and gluons by the strong interaction, clustering phenomena of quarks can generate hadronic molecules -- weakly bound systems of hadrons -- which are expected to emerge near two-hadron thresholds. However, it should be noted that a pure hadronic molecule is not realized, as the strong interaction induces mixing with other possible configurations. The compositeness of hadrons has been developed as a promising concept to quantitatively characterize the fraction of the hadronic molecular component. Here we summarize the modern understanding of the compositeness to study the internal structure of hadrons, and review the applications of the compositeness to various quantum systems in different energy scales, such as nuclei and atomic systems in addition to hadrons.

We have shown that the small-$x$ evolution of the off-forward leading-log dipole scattering amplitudes, both pomeron and odderon, in the momentum space can be completely determined by the evolution of the respective forward amplitudes, with rescaled momenta. In position space, if there is translation symmetry (assumption of a large nucleus), the dipole cross section depends on the positions of quarks and anti-quarks only through their separation. The present study is an equivalent proposition in the momentum space -- where translation symmetry in momentum bifurcates the amplitudes into two translationally symmetric functions along the ${\bf k}$ line in the ${\bf k}-{\bf \Delta}$ plane. It also shows that high energy evolutions of dipole GTMDs can be achieved only by studying the evolution of dipole TMDs at small-$x$.

Relativistic full weak-neutral axial-vector four-current distributions inside a general spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ system are systematically studied for the first time, where the second-class current contribution associated with the induced (pseudo-)tensor form factor (FF) is included. For experimental measurements, we explicitly derive the first exact full tree-level unpolarized differential cross sections of both (anti)neutrino-nucleon and (anti)neutrino-antinucleon elastic scatterings. We clearly demonstrate that the 3D axial charge distribution in the Breit frame, being purely imaginary and parity-odd, is in fact related to the induced (pseudo-)tensor FF $G_T^Z(Q^2)$ rather than the axial FF $G_A^Z(Q^2)$. We study the frame-dependence of full axial-vector four-current distributions for a moving system, and compared them with their light-front counterparts. We clarify the role played by Melosh rotations, and classify the origin of distortions in light-front distributions into three key sources using the lemma that we have proposed and verified in this work. In particular, we show that the second-class current contribution, although explicitly included, does not contribute in fact to the mean-square axial and spin radii. We finally illustrate our results in the case of a proton using the weak-neutral axial-vector FFs extracted from experimental data.

We study the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of a free Bose gas under rigid rotation. The aim is to explore the impact of rotation on the thermodynamic quantities associated with BEC, including the Bose-Einstein (BE) transition temperature and condensate fraction. We begin by introducing the rotation in the Lagrangian density of free charged Klein-Gordon fields and determine the corresponding grand canonical partition function at finite temperature, chemical potential, and finite angular velocity. Assuming slow rotation, we derive analytical expressions for the pressure, energy, number, and angular momentum densities of a free Bose gas in nonrelativistic and ultrarelativistic limits in terms of the corresponding fugacities. We then focus on the phenomenon of BEC. We calculate the critical temperature of BEC transition and the condensate fraction in a slowly rotating Bose gas including only particles. Our findings indicate that the critical exponent associated with the BE transition in a rotating gas is lower compared to that in a nonrotating Bose gas. We also determine the fugacity in a rotating Bose gas in the aforementioned limits and examine how rotation affects its temperature dependence, both below and above the critical temperature. By analyzing the behavior of heat capacity at these temperatures, we demonstrate that in a nonrelativistic Bose gas, the rotation transforms the nature of the BE phase transition from a continuous to a discontinuous transition. In general, we find that a nonrelativistic Bose gas under rotation behaves similarly to a nonrotating Bose gas in ultrarelativistic limit.

The cross-section for the associated production of a jet with an electroweak gauge boson ($G = W^{\pm}, Z^0, \gamma$) at forward rapidities in $pp$ and $pA$ collisions is derived within the color - dipole $S$ - matrix framework. We present the full expressions for the differential cross-section of the $q p \rightarrow G q X$ process in the transverse momentum space, considering the longitudinal and transverse polarizations of the gauge boson. We demonstrate that the final formulae can be expressed in terms of the unintegrated gluon distribution and reproduce previous results for the associated jet + $\gamma$ and jet + $Z^0$ production, derived using other frameworks. Moreover, we derive the back - to - back correlation limit of the spectra and show that it can be expressed in terms of the unpolarized and linearly polarized transverse momentum gluon distributions. Our results improve the description of the inclusive jet plus color neutral particle production at forward rapidities, not far from the proton fragmentation region, in $pp$ or $pA$ collisions, and are the main ingredient to study the impact of nonlinear QCD effects in two - particle correlations.