Finite-size behavior near the critical point of QCD phase-transition

TL;DR

This paper discusses how finite-size effects influence the detection of the QCD critical point in heavy ion collisions, proposing finite-size scaling as a key method for identification.

Contribution

It introduces finite-size scaling and fixed-point behavior analysis as novel tools for locating the QCD critical point in experimental data.

Findings

Finite-size effects are significant in current heavy ion collision experiments.

Finite-size scaling can quantitatively identify the QCD critical point.

Method validity at RHIC detector acceptances is discussed.

Abstract

It is pointed out that finite-size effect is not negligible in locating critical point of QCD phase transition at current relativistic heavy ion collisions. Finite-size behavior near critical point, in particular, finite-size scaling and fixed-point behavior of the final observables can be served as a quantitative identification of critical point and the nearby boundary of the QCD phase transition. The validity of the method at finite detector acceptances at RHIC is discussed.