1202.0021 (Bengt Friman)

Phase transitions at finite density    [PDF]

Bengt Friman

I discuss the analytic structure of thermodynamic quantities for complex
values of thermodynamic variables within Landau theory. In particular, the
singularities connected with phase transitions of second order, first order and
cross over types are examined. A conformal mapping is introduced, which may be
used to explore the thermodynamics of strongly interacting matter at finite
values of the baryon chemical potential $\mu$ starting from lattice QCD results
at $\mu^{2}\leq 0$. This method allows us to improve the convergence of a
Taylor expansion about $\mu=0$ and to enhance the sensitivity to physical
singularities in the complex $\mu$ plane. The technique is illustrated by an
application to a second-order transition in a chiral effective model.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1202.0021