SU(3) Gauge Theory with Adjoint Fermions

Abstract

We analyze the finite temperature phase diagram of QCD with fermions in the adjoint representation. The simulations performed with four dynamical Majorana fermions, which is equivalent to two Dirac fermions, show that the deconfinement and chiral phase transitions occur at two distinct temperatures, $T_{\rm chiral} \simeq 6.65 T_{\rm deconf}$. While the deconfinement transition is first order we find evidence for a continuous chiral transition. We also present potentials for $T<T_{\rm deconf}$ and $T_{\rm deconf}<T< T_{\rm chiral}$ both for fundamental and adjoint fermion-antifermion pairs.