QCD thermodynamics of effective models with an improved Polyakov-loop potential

TL;DR

This paper develops an improved Polyakov-loop potential accounting for quark backreaction, leading to more accurate modeling of QCD thermodynamics in a 2+1 flavor Polyakov-quark-meson framework.

Contribution

The authors introduce a new Polyakov-loop potential that incorporates quark backreaction, enhancing the realism of effective QCD models.

Findings

Improved potential yields thermodynamics closer to full QCD.

Temperature dependence of order parameters aligns better with lattice results.

Results depend on critical temperature, potential parametrization, and sigma-meson mass.

Abstract

We analyse the role of the quark backreaction on the gauge-field dynamics and its impact on the Polyakov-loop potential. Based on our analysis we construct an improved Polyakov-loop potential that can be used in future model studies. In the present work, we employe this improved potential in a study of a 2+1 flavour Polyakov-quark-meson model and show that the temperature dependence of the order parameters and thermodynamics is closer to full QCD. We discuss the results for QCD thermodynamics and outline briefly the dependence of our results on the critical temperature and the parametrisation of the Polyakov-loop potential as well as the mass of the sigma-meson.