Relative weights approach to SU(3) gauge theories with dynamical fermions at finite density

Understand

We derive effective Polyakov line actions for SU(3) gauge theories with staggered dynamical fermions, for a small sample of lattice couplings, lattice actions, and lattice extensions in the time direction.

• The derivation is via the method of relative weights, and the theories are solved at finite chemical potential by mean field theory.
• We find in some instances that the long-range couplings in the effective action are very important to the phase structure, and that these couplings are responsible for long-lived metastable states in the effective theory.
• Only one of these states corresponds to the underlying lattice gauge theory.