Solving the Complex Phase Problem in a QCD Related Model

Abstract

We discuss an effective theory for QCD at finite chemical potential and non-zero temperature, where QCD is reduced to its center degrees of freedom. The effective action can be mapped to a flux representation, where the complex phase problem is solved and the theory accessible to Monte Carlo techniques. In this work, we use a generalized Prokof'ev-Svistunov worm algorithm to perform the simulations and determine the phase diagram as a function of temperature, quark mass and chemical potential. It turns out that the transition is qualitatively as expected for QCD.

Comments: 6 pages and 3 figures, proceedings for "Excited QCD", Les Houches, France, 20 - 25 February, 2011