Chiral Thermodynamics in a finite box

TL;DR

This paper explores how finite-volume effects influence the chiral phase diagram in a two-flavor quark-meson model, highlighting the impact of boundary conditions and vacuum fluctuations on critical signatures.

Contribution

It provides new insights into finite-volume modifications of the chiral phase diagram using mean-field approximations in an effective quark-meson model.

Findings

Vacuum fluctuations and boundary conditions significantly affect higher cumulants.

Smaller volumes amplify signatures of a possible pseudo-critical endpoint.

Finite-volume effects alter the phase transition characteristics.

Abstract

Finite-volume modifications of the two-flavor chiral phase diagram are investigated within an effective quark-meson model in various mean-field approximations. The role of vacuum fluctuations and boundary conditions, their influence on higher cumulants and signatures of a possible pseudo-critical endpoint are amplified with smaller volumes.