$Z_3$ meta-stable states in PNJL model

We study the Z 3 meta-stable states in the Polyakov loop Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (PNJL) model. These states exist for temperatures above T m ~ 194 MeV and can decay via bubble nucleation. We numerically solve the bounce equation to compute the nucleation rate. We speculate that, in the context of heavy-ion collisions, the likely scenario for the decay of the meta-stable states is via spinodal decomposition.