Imaginary Chemical Potential Approach for the Pseudo-Critical Line in the QCD Phase Diagram with Clover-Improved Wilson Fermions

TL;DR

This study uses lattice QCD simulations with an imaginary chemical potential to explore the QCD phase diagram, identifying phase transition orders and the pseudo-critical line with improved fermion actions.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of the pseudo-critical line in the QCD phase diagram using clover-improved Wilson fermions and a large set of simulation points.

Findings

Roberge-Weiss transition is first order at $\mu_I/T=\pi/3$

Endpoint of transition is second order

Pseudo-critical line deviates from linearity in $\mu_I^2$

Abstract

The QCD phase diagram is studied in the lattice QCD simulation with the imaginary chemical potential approach. We employ a clover-improved Wilson fermion action of two-flavors and a renormalization-group improved gauge action, and perform the simulation at an intermediate quark mass on a $8^3\times 4$ lattice. The QCD phase diagram in the imaginary chemical potential $\mu_I$ region is investigated by performing the simulation for more than 150 points on the $(\beta,\mu_I)$ plane. We find that the Roberge-Weiss phase transition at $\mu_I/T=\pi/3$ is first order and its endpoint is second order, which are identified by the phase of the Polyakov loop. We determine the pseudo-critical line from the susceptibility of the Polyakov loop modulus. We find a clear deviation from a linear dependence of the pseudo-critical line on $\mu_I^2$.