Lattice Study of the Conformal Window in QCD-like Theories

Abstract

Using lattice simulations, we study the extent of the conformal window for an $\text{SU}(3)$ gauge theory with $N_f$ Dirac fermions in the fundamental representation. We present evidence that the infrared behavior is conformal for $12\le N_f\le 16$, governed by an infrared fixed point, while confinement and chiral symmetry breaking are present for $N_f\le 8$.

Comments: 4 pages, 2 figures. v2: assorted edits for style and length