文档介绍：Phase transitions in quantum chromodynamics
Hildegard Meyer-Ortmanns*
Institut fu¨r Theoretische Physik, Universita¨t Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
The current understanding of finite-temperature phase transitions in QCD is reviewed. A critical
discussion of refined phase-transition criteria in numerical lattice simulations and of analytical tools
going beyond the mean-field level in effective continuum models for QCD is presented. Theoretical
predictions about the order of the transitions pared with possible experimental manifestations
in heavy-ion collisions. Various places in phenomenological descriptions are pointed out where more
reliable data for QCD’s equation of state would help in selecting the most realistic scenario among
those proposed. Unanswered questions are raised about the relevance of calculations that assume
thermodynamic equilibrium. Promising new approaches for implementing nonequilibrium aspects of
the thermodynamics of heavy-ion collisions are described. [S0034-6861(96)00302-9]
CONTENTS a. How to measure an interface tension 509
b. Multicanonical algorithms 510
4. Phenomenological implications for the early
I. Introduction 474 universe 511
II. General Background 477 C. Including dynamical fermions 513
A. Phase transitions in statistical systems 477 1. Pitfalls on the lattice 513
1. First- and second-order transitions in the 2. Finite-size scaling analysis 514
infinite-volume limit 477 3. Finite-mass scaling analysis 515
a. The Landau free energy 478 4. Bulk transitions 518
b. The renormalization-group approach a. Identification of the lattice artifact 519
in the infinite-volume limit 480 b. Basic observables 520
2. Finite-size scaling analysis 481 c. Determination of the critical coupling 520
a. Second-order transitions 482 d. Indications of chiral symmetry restoration 521
b. First-order transtions 483 5. Results for two and three flavors 522
c. The two-peak Gaussian model 484 6. The equati