Lattice QCD at Finite Density: An Introductory Review

Abstract

This is a pedagogical review of the lattice study of finite density QCD, which is intended to provide the minimum necessary contents, so that the paper may be used as the first reading for a newcomer to the field and also for those working in nonlattice communities. After a brief introduction to argue why finite density QCD can be a new attractive subject, we describe fundamental formulae which are necessary for the following sections. Then we survey lattice QCD simulations in small chemical potential regions, where several prominent works have been reported recently. Next, two-color QCD calculations are discussed, where we have a chance to glance at many new features of finite density QCD, and indeed recent simulations indicated quark pair condensation and the in-medium effect. Tables of SU(3) and SU(2) lattice simulations at finite baryon density are given. In the next section, we make a survey of several related works which may be a starting point of the new development in the future, although some works do not attract much attention now. Materials are described in a pedagogical manner. Starting from a simple 2-d model, we briefly discuss a lattice analysis of NJL model. We describe a non-perturbative analytical approach, i.e., strong coupling approximation method and some results. Canonical ensemble approach instead of usual grand canonical ensample may be another route to reach high density. We examine the density of state method and show this old idea includes recently proposed factorization method. An alternative method, complex Langevin equation and an interesting model, finite isospin model, are also discussed. In Appendix, we give several technical points which are useful in practical calculations.