1996/11/05 by Maria Paola Lombardo, M. -P. Lombardo, Lombardo, M. -P.
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Chiral perturbation theory #Critical point (mathematics) #Eigenvalues and eigenvectors #FOS: Physical sciences #High Energy Physics - Lattice (hep-lat) #High-Energy Particle Collisions Research #Lattice (music) #Lattice QCD #Mathematical analysis #Mathematical physics #Mathematics #Particle physics #Partition function (quantum field theory) #Physics #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Propagator #Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions #Quantum chromodynamics #Quantum electrodynamics #Quantum mechanics #Quark #Quenched approximation #hep-lat
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.hep-lat/9611004
5 pages, Latex, contribution to the proceedings of RHIC Summer Study 96, BNL, 8-19 July 1996
arxiv created 1996/11/05 · openalex publication_date 1996/11/05 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We study the interplay of quark number density and chiral symmetry in lattice QCD. We suggest that both are controlled by the eigenvalue spectrum of the fermionic propagator matrix, which shapes the pattern of zeros of the partition function. The onset of the quark current would be triggered by the lowest lying eigenvalue, the chiral transition by the density of zeros, the two critical points being distinct in full QCD, and coincident in the quenched approximation. Our preliminary estimate for the critical point in full QCD in the infinite couling limit compares favourably with the predictions of the strong coupling expansions and of numerical simulations based on exact, alternative representations of the partition function. Several reasons of perplexity however remain, which are briefly discussed.