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Spatial Wilson loops and energy loss for heavy quarks in a magnetized holographic QCD model

Irina Ya. Aref’eva1,*, Ali Hajilou1,2,†, Kristina Rannu3,‡, and Pavel Slepov1,§

  • *Contact author: arefeva@mi-ras.ru
  • †Contact author: hajilou@mi-ras.ru
  • ‡Contact author: rannu-ka@rudn.ru
  • §Contact author: slepov@mi-ras.ru
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Phys. Rev. D 113, 106004 – Published 6 May, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/n337-n4l3

Abstract

We investigate the effective potential and the string tension for the spatial Wilson loop in hot dense quark-gluon plasma with two types of anisotropy, i.e., external magnetic field and spatial anisotropy, employing a holographic approach for the heavy quark model. In this approach, the string is extended in the fifth, holographic direction and has a turning point either on a dynamical wall (DW) configuration or on the horizon configuration in the fifth direction. We obtain the magnetic catalysis behavior for a phase transition between DW and horizon configuration of the string. The structure of the phase diagram does not depend on the boundary conditions choice for the dilaton field. Inclusion of the external magnetic field and spatial anisotropy enhance the string tension in the horizon configuration, namely drag force. For the spatially isotropic case ν=1 at different magnetic field values, the string tension is proportional to T2 and is qualitatively consistent with lattice results. However, for the anisotropic case, ν=4.5, it deviates from the quadratic term.

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Phys. Rev. D 113, 106004– Published 6 May, 2026
  • Received 25 January 2026
  • Accepted 24 March 2026
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