Finite-temperature study of eight-flavor SU(3) gauge theory

TL;DR

This study investigates the finite-temperature phase transitions of an eight-flavor SU(3) gauge theory using lattice simulations, revealing the challenges in observing chiral symmetry breaking at small fermion masses.

Contribution

The paper provides new lattice results for Nf=8 flavors, exploring high renormalized couplings and large volumes, and discusses the implications for chiral symmetry breaking.

Findings

Finite-temperature transitions do not persist in the chiral limit.

A strongly coupled lattice phase emerges as fermion mass decreases.

Larger temporal lattice extents are needed to confirm chiral symmetry breaking.

Abstract

We present new lattice investigations of finite-temperature transitions for SU(3) gauge theory with Nf=8 light flavors. Using nHYP-smeared staggered fermions we are able to explore renormalized couplings $g^2 \lesssim 20$ on lattice volumes as large as $48^3 \times 24$. Finite-temperature transitions at non-zero fermion mass do not persist in the chiral limit, instead running into a strongly coupled lattice phase as the mass decreases. That is, finite-temperature studies with this lattice action require even larger $N_T > 24$ to directly confirm spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking.