Hadronization of the Quark Universe

Abstract

We explore quantitatively the conditions in which matter (protons, neutrons) formed in the Early Universe during a period which spanned 10--50mus. We obtain all chemical potentials implied by the present day baryon-to-photon ratio. The baryochemical potential reaches its minimal value at the beginning of hadronization of the quark Universe, where mu_b=1.1 \pm 0.25 eV. In the mixed hadron-quark phase, a significant hadron sector electric charge distillation is found.

4 pages including 4 figures; PRL under review; results updated to include WMAP results, entropy counting improved