Multiple Critical Points in the QCD Phase Diagram

Abstract

We use the linear sigma model with two flavors of quarks to study the phase diagram at finite temperature and baryon chemical potential as a function of the vacuum pion mass. Our calculations include thermal fluctuations of both the bosonic and fermionic fields. An interesting phase structure occurs that results in two, one, or no critical points depending on the value of the pion mass.

Comments: Proceedings of "Critical Point and Onset of Deconfinement 2009", Brookhaven National Laboratory. 7 pages, 5 figures