Real and imaginary chemical potential in 2-color QCD

TL;DR

This paper investigates the phase structure of SU(2) gauge theory at finite temperature with non-zero chemical potential, testing the analytical continuation method from imaginary to real chemical potential through direct simulations.

Contribution

It provides a systematic evaluation of the analytical continuation method in different regions of the phase diagram for SU(2) gauge theory.

Findings

Analytical continuation is effective in certain phase diagram regions.

Comparison shows good agreement between continued and direct simulations.

Method's applicability varies with temperature and chemical potential.

Abstract

In this paper we study the finite temperature SU(2) gauge theory with staggered fermions for non-zero imaginary and real chemical potential. The method of analytical continuation of Monte Carlo results from imaginary to real chemical potential is tested by comparison with simulations performed {\em directly} for real chemical potential. We discuss the applicability of the method in the different regions of the phase diagram in the temperature -- imaginary chemical potential plane.