Finite density phase transition of QCD with Nf=4 and N f=2 using canonical ensemble method

Anyi Li, Andrei Alexandru, Keh Fei Liu, Xiangfei Meng

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55 Scopus citations

Abstract

In a progress toward searching for the QCD critical point, we study the finite density phase transition of Nf=4 and 2 lattice QCD at finite temperature with the canonical ensemble approach. We develop a winding number expansion method to accurately project out the particle number from the fermion determinant which greatly extends the applicable range of baryon number sectors to make the study feasible. Our lattice simulation was carried out with the clover fermions and improved gauge action. For a given temperature, we calculate the baryon-chemical potential from the canonical approach to look for the mixed phase as a signal for the first-order phase transition. In the case of N f=4, we observe an "S-shape" structure in the chemical potential-density plane due to the surface tension of the mixed phase in a finite volume which is a signal for the first-order phase transition. We use the Maxwell construction to determine the phase boundaries for three temperatures below Tc. The intersecting point of the two extrapolated boundaries turns out to be at the expected first-order transition point at Tc with μ=0. This serves as a check for our method of identifying the critical point. We also studied the Nf=2 case, but do not see a signal of the mixed phase for temperature as low as 0.83Tc.

Original languageEnglish
Article number054502
JournalPhysical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology
Volume82
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 20 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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