Flux representation of an effective Polyakov loop model for QCD thermodynamics

TL;DR

This paper introduces a flux representation for an effective Polyakov loop model in QCD thermodynamics, enabling simulations at finite chemical potential by resolving the complex action problem.

Contribution

It presents an exact mapping of the partition sum to a flux model, allowing worm-type algorithms to be used at finite chemical potential.

Findings

Complex action problem is resolved in the flux representation.

Simulation with worm algorithms is feasible at finite chemical potential.

High temperature expansion techniques facilitate the exact mapping.

Abstract

We discuss an effective Polyakov loop model for QCD thermodynamics with a chemical potential. Using high temperature expansion techniques the partition sum is mapped exactly onto the partition sum of a flux model. In the flux representation the complex action problem is resolved and a simulation with worm-type algorithms becomes possible also at finite chemical potential.