Critical point search from an extended parameter space of lattice QCD at finite temperature and density

Abstract

Aiming to understand the phase structure of lattice QCD at nonzero temperature and density, we study the phase transitions of QCD in an extended parameter space, where the number of flavor and quark masses are considered as parameters. Performing simulations of 2 flavor QCD and using the reweighting method, we investigate (2+Nf) flavor QCD at finite density, where two light flavors and Nf massive flavors exist. Calculating probability distribution functions, we determine the critical surface terminating first order phase transitions in the parameter space of the light quark mass, the heavy quark mass and the chemical potential. Through the study of the many flavor system, we discuss the phase structure of QCD at finite density.