Is there an Aoki phase in quenched QCD?

TL;DR

This paper explores the phase structure of quenched QCD at negative quark mass, suggesting the potential existence of an Aoki phase that impacts lattice QCD simulations.

Contribution

It proposes the possibility of an Aoki phase in quenched QCD with negative quark mass, highlighting implications for domain-wall and overlap fermion simulations.

Findings

Quenched QCD may have a non-trivial phase structure at negative quark mass.

The potential existence of an Aoki phase in quenched QCD is discussed.

Implications for lattice QCD simulations using domain-wall or overlap fermions.

Abstract

We argue that quenched QCD has non-trivial phase structure for negative quark mass, including the possibility of a parity-flavor breaking Aoki phase. This has implications for simulations with domain-wall or overlap fermions.