Finite-temperature study of eight-flavor SU(3) gauge theory

Abstract

We present new lattice investigations of finite-temperature transitions for SU(3) gauge theory with Nf=8 light flavors. Using nHYP-smeared staggered fermions we are able to explore renormalized couplings $g^2\lesssim 20$ on lattice volumes as large as $48^3\times 24$. Finite-temperature transitions at non-zero fermion mass do not persist in the chiral limit, instead running into a strongly coupled lattice phase as the mass decreases. That is, finite-temperature studies with this lattice action require even larger $N_T>24$ to directly confirm spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking.

Comments: Contribution to the Sakata Memorial KMI Workshop on "Origin of Mass and Strong Coupling Gauge Theories" (SCGT15), 3--6 March 2015, Nagoya University