QCD critical point sweep during black hole formation.

We discuss the possibility to probe the QCD critical point during the prompt black hole formation. In black hole formation processes, temperature and baryon chemical potential become as high as T ∼ 90MeV and μB ∼ 1300MeV. This high baryon chemical potential would allow nuclear matter to experience the QCD phase transition, and the temperature may be higher than the QCD critical point temperature. We compare the phase boundary in chiral effective models and the thermal environment obtained in the ν radiation hydrodynamical calculation of the gravitational collapse of a 40M⊙ star leading to the black hole formation. This comparison suggests that quark matter is likely to be formed, and the QCD critical point may be swept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]