On the spectrum of QCD-like theories and the conformal window

Understand

We report on the spectrum of the SU(3) gauge theory with twelve flavours in the fundamental representation of the gauge group.

• We isolate distinctive features of the hadronic phase - the one proper of QCD at zero temperature - and the so called conformal phase.
• The latter should emerge at sufficiently large Nf and before the loss of asymptotic freedom.
• In particular, we analyse available lattice data for the spectrum of Nf=12 and include a comparison with results with Nf=16; the latter theory, predicted by the perturbative beta-function to develop an IRFP and therefore be in the conformal phase, can serve as a paradigm for the study of theories in the conformal window.