The phase structure of the Polyakov--quark-meson model beyond mean field

TL;DR

This paper advances the Polyakov-extended quark-meson model by including quantum fluctuations and back-reactions, providing deeper insights into QCD phase transitions and thermodynamics beyond mean-field approximations.

Contribution

It introduces a beyond mean-field approach to the PQM model, incorporating matter fluctuations and back-reactions for more accurate QCD phase transition predictions.

Findings

Chiral and deconfinement transition lines are mapped.

A possible critical endpoint is identified.

Thermodynamic quantities are analyzed beyond mean-field.

Abstract

The Polyakov-extended quark-meson model (PQM) is investigated beyond mean-field. This represents an important step towards a fully dynamical QCD computation. Both the quantum fluctuations to the matter sector and the back-reaction of the matter fluctuations to the QCD Yang-Mills sector are included. Results on the chiral and confinement-deconfinement crossover/phase transition lines and the location of a possible critical endpoint are presented. Moreover, thermodynamic quantities such as the pressure and the quark density are discussed.