Strong coupling methods in QCD thermodynamics

Understand

For a long time, strong coupling expansions have not been applied systematically in lattice QCD thermodynamics, in view of the succes of numerical Monte Carlo studies.

• The persistent sign problem at finite baryo-chemical potential, however, has motivated investigations using these methods, either by themselves or combined with numerical evaluations, as a route to finite density physics.
• This article reviews the strategies, by which a number of qualitative insights have been attained, notably the emergence of the hadron resonance gas or the identification of the onset transition to baryon matter in specific regions of the QCD parameter space.
• For the simpler case of Yang-Mills theory, the deconfinement transition can be determined quantitatively even in the scaling region, showing possible prospects for continuum physics.