NNLO HTLpt predictions for the curvature of the QCD phase transition line

TL;DR

This paper uses NNLO HTLpt to predict the curvature coefficients of the QCD phase transition line, showing excellent agreement with lattice QCD results for both second- and fourth-order coefficients across different chemical potential scenarios.

Contribution

The study provides novel NNLO HTLpt-based predictions for the curvature coefficients of the QCD phase transition line, extending the theoretical understanding and matching lattice results.

Findings

Excellent agreement with lattice QCD for 

Predictions for  also match lattice data where available

Valid across multiple chemical potential scenarios

Abstract

We present predictions for the second- and fourth-order curvature coefficients of the QCD phase transition line using the NNLO HTLpt-resummed thermodynamic potential. We present three cases corresponding to (i) $\mu_s = \mu_l = \mu_B/3$, (ii) $\mu_s=0$, $\mu_l = \mu_B/3,$ and (iii) $S = 0$, $Q/B = 0.4$, $\mu_l = \mu_B/3$. In all three cases, we find excellent agreement with continuum extrapolated lattice QCD results for $\kappa_2$, given current statistical uncertainties. We also make HTLpt predictions for $\kappa_4$ in all three cases, finding again excellent agreement with lattice extractions of this coefficient where available.