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Main Authors: Ejiri, Shinji, Koiida, Masanari, Sato, Toshiki
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.15720
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author Ejiri, Shinji
Koiida, Masanari
Sato, Toshiki
author_facet Ejiri, Shinji
Koiida, Masanari
Sato, Toshiki
contents We discuss the nature of the QCD phase transition in the heavy quark high-density region by considering an effective theory in which Polyakov loops are dynamical variables. The Polyakov loop is an order parameter of $Z_3$ symmetry, and the fundamental properties of the phase transition are thought to be determined by the $Z_3$ symmetry broken by the phase transition. By replacing the Polyakov loop with $Z_3$ spin, we find that the effective model becomes a three-dimensional three-state Potts model ($Z_3$ spin model) with a complex external field term. We investigate the phase structure of the Potts model and discuss QCD in the heavy quark region. The critical points are determined by finite volume scaling analysis, and in the region where the sign problem is severe, the tensor renormalization group is used to investigate. As the density varies from $μ=0$ to $μ=\infty$, we find that the phase transition is first order in the low-density region, changes to a crossover at the critical point, and then becomes first order again. This strongly suggests the existence of a first order phase transition in the high-density heavy quark region of QCD.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_15720
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Phase structure of lattice QCD in the heavy quark high-density region and the three-state Potts model
Ejiri, Shinji
Koiida, Masanari
Sato, Toshiki
High Energy Physics - Lattice
We discuss the nature of the QCD phase transition in the heavy quark high-density region by considering an effective theory in which Polyakov loops are dynamical variables. The Polyakov loop is an order parameter of $Z_3$ symmetry, and the fundamental properties of the phase transition are thought to be determined by the $Z_3$ symmetry broken by the phase transition. By replacing the Polyakov loop with $Z_3$ spin, we find that the effective model becomes a three-dimensional three-state Potts model ($Z_3$ spin model) with a complex external field term. We investigate the phase structure of the Potts model and discuss QCD in the heavy quark region. The critical points are determined by finite volume scaling analysis, and in the region where the sign problem is severe, the tensor renormalization group is used to investigate. As the density varies from $μ=0$ to $μ=\infty$, we find that the phase transition is first order in the low-density region, changes to a crossover at the critical point, and then becomes first order again. This strongly suggests the existence of a first order phase transition in the high-density heavy quark region of QCD.
title Phase structure of lattice QCD in the heavy quark high-density region and the three-state Potts model
topic High Energy Physics - Lattice
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.15720