arXiv subjects

N. G. Antoniou

Publications and source records attributed to N. G. Antoniou.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Chiral QCD phase in equilibrium with Hadron Gas and the location of the critical point

We develop a description of the equation of state of QCD matter with restored chiral symmetry, which is in thermal and chemical equilibrium with the hadronic phase. The hadron gas is described with thermodynamically consistent volume corrections. The chiral phase is composed of a set of few quark condensates, each of which corresponds to a family of hadrons with specific quark content. On the boundary between the two phases we apply the requirement of conservation of particle numbers per family. We use lattice calculations for temperatures below the transition curve to determine hadronic volumes. We find that the pion system plays decisive role in the shift of the transition from higher order (crossover) to first order. For four volume models we calculate the location of the critical point as function of critical temperature $T_c$ at vanishing baryon density. Particularly, if we additionally impose the equality between the densities of quarks contained in mesons and baryons, we find a critical point residing in the interval of baryon chemical potential $μ_B \simeq$ 233-267 MeV and of temperature $T \simeq$ 153-158 MeV.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2017

Viscosity of a net-baryon fluid near the QCD critical point

In the dynamics of the QCD critical point, the net-baryon fluid, linked to the slow component of the order parameter, relaxes to a 3d Ising system in equilibrium. An analytical study of shear and bulk viscosity, with constraints imposed by the dynamics of the critical net-baryon fluid, the universality property and the requirements of a class of strong coupling theories, is performed in the neighbourhood of the critical point. It is found that the shear viscosity of the net-baryon fluid is restricted in the domain $1.6\leq 4π\fracη{s}\leq 3.7$ for $T_c < T \leq 2T_c$ whereas the bulk viscosity is small, $4π\fracζ{s} < 0.05$ (for $T>1.27 T_c$) but rising towards the singularity at $T=T_c$.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2017

Locating the QCD critical endpoint through finite-size scaling

Considering the 3d Ising universality class of the QCD critical endpoint we use a universal effective action for the description of the baryon-number density fluctuations around the critical region. Calculating the baryon-number multiplicity moments and determining their scaling with system's size we show that the critical region is very narrow in the direction of the baryon chemical potential $μ$ and wide in the temperature direction $T$ for $T > T_c$. In this context, published experimental results on local proton density-fluctuation measurements obtained by intermittency analysis in transverse momentum space in NA49 central A+A collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=17.2$ GeV (A=C,Si,Pb), restrict significantly the location $(μ_c,T_c)$ of the QCD critical endpoint. The main constraint is provided by the freeze-out chemical potential of the Si+Si system, which shows non-conventional baryon density fluctuations, restricting $(μ_c,T_c)$ within a narrow domain, $119~\textrm{MeV} \leq T_c \leq 162~\textrm{MeV}$, $252~\textrm{MeV} \leq μ_c \leq 258~\textrm{MeV}$, of the phase diagram.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Condensation of Lee-Yang zeros in scalar field theory

We show that, at the critical temperature, there is a class of Lee-Yang zeros of the partition function in a general scalar field theory, which location scales with the size of the system with a characteristic exponent expressed in terms of the isothermal critical exponent $δ$. In the thermodynamic limit the zeros belonging to this class condense to the critical point ζ=1 on the real axis in the complex fugacity plane while the complementary set of zeros (with Re ζ < 1) covers uniformly the unit circle. Although the aforementioned class degenerates to a single point for an infinite system, when the size is finite it dominates in the partition function and determines the self-similar structure (fractal geometry, scaling laws) of the critical system. This property opens up the perspective to formulate finite-size scaling theory in effective QCD, near the chiral critical point, in terms of the location of Lee-Yang zeros.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Has the QCD critical point been observed at RHIC?

The experimental search for the location of the QCD critical point in the phase diagram is of primary importance. In a recent publication it is claimed that measurements at RHIC lead not only to the location of the critical point ($μ_{cep}=95$ MeV, $T_{cep}=165$ MeV) but also to the verification of its universality class ($3d$ Ising system) by extracting the values of the critical exponents ($γ=1.2$, $ν=0.66$). We argue that this claim is based on an erroneous treatment of scaling relations near the critical point. As a result, the correct interpretation of the measurements cannot be linked to the QCD critical point.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Critical fluctuations of the proton density in A+A collisions at $158A$ GeV

We look for fluctuations expected for the QCD critical point using an intermittency analysis in the transverse momentum phase space of protons produced around midrapidity in the 12.5\% most central C+C, Si+Si and Pb+Pb collisions at the maximum SPS energy of 158$A$~GeV. We find evidence of power-law fluctuations for the Si+Si data. The fitted power-law exponent $ϕ_{2} = 0.96^{+0.38}_{-0.25}\text{ (stat.)}$ $\pm 0.16\text{ (syst.)}$ is consistent with the va\-lue expected for critical fluctuations. Power-law fluctuations had previously also been observed in low-mass $π^+ π^-$ pairs in the same Si+Si collisions.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2010

Search for the QCD critical point in nuclear collisions at the CERN SPS

Pion production in nuclear collisions at the SPS is investigated with the aim to search, in a restricted domain of the phase diagram, for power-laws in the behavior of correlations which are compatible with critical QCD. We have analyzed interactions of nuclei of different size (p+p, C+C, Si+Si, Pb+Pb) at 158$A$ GeV adopting, as appropriate observables, scaled factorial moments in a search for intermittent fluctuations in transverse dimensions. The analysis is performed for $π^+π^-$ pairs with invariant mass very close to the two-pion threshold. In this sector one may capture critical fluctuations of the sigma component in a hadronic medium, even if the $σ$-meson has no well defined vacuum state. It turns out that for the Pb+Pb system the proposed analysis technique cannot be applied without entering the invariant mass region with strong Coulomb correlations. As a result the treatment becomes inconclusive in this case. Our results for the other systems indicate the presence of power-law fluctuations in the freeze-out state of Si+Si approaching in size the prediction of critical QCD.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2008

Classical evolution of fractal measures generated by a scalar field on the lattice

We investigate the classical evolution of a $ϕ^4$ scalar field theory, using in the initial state random field configurations possessing a fractal measure expressed by a non-integer mass dimension. These configurations resemble the equilibrium state of a critical scalar condensate. The measures of the initial fractal behavior vary in time following the mean field motion. We show that the remnants of the original fractal geometry survive and leave an imprint in the system time averaged observables, even for large times compared to the approximate oscillation period of the mean field, determined by the model parameters. This behavior becomes more transparent in the evolution of a deterministic Cantor-like scalar field configuration. We extend our study to the case of two interacting scalar fields, and we find qualitatively similar results. Therefore, our analysis indicates that the geometrical properties of a critical system initially at equilibrium could sustain for several periods of the field oscillations in the phase of non-equilibrium evolution.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2008

Evidence for divergent baryon-number susceptibility in QCD matter

The baryon-number density formed in relativistic nuclear collisions, versus the chemical potential of the freeze-out states, is systematically studied on the basis of existing measurements. A remarkable power-law behaviour of the baryon-number susceptibility is found at the SPS, consistent with the existence of a QCD critical point at $μ_{B,c}\simeq 214$ MeV, $T_c\simeq 155$ MeV. The equation of state in different asymptotic regimes of the critical region is also examined and confronted with freeze-out states in these experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Evolutionary intermittency and the QCD critical point

We investigate the dynamics of the critical isoscalar condensate, formed during heavy-ion collisions. Our analysis is based on a simplified model where the sigma and the pions are the only degrees of freedom. In field description, both in physical and momentum space, we find that the freeze-out profile presents a structure which reveals clear traces of the critical fluctuations in the sigma-component. In particle representation, using Monte-Carlo simulations and factorial moment analysis, we show that signatures of the initial criticality survive at the detected pions. We propose the distribution of suitably defined intermittency indices, incorporating dynamical effects due to sigma-pion interaction, as the basic observable for the exploration of critical fluctuations in heavy-ion collision experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

Classical evolution of fractal measures on the lattice

We consider the classical evolution of a lattice of non-linear coupled oscillators for a special case of initial conditions resembling the equilibrium state of a macroscopic thermal system at the critical point. The displacements of the oscillators define initially a fractal measure on the lattice associated with the scaling properties of the order parameter fluctuations in the corresponding critical system. Assuming a sudden symmetry breaking (quench), leading to a change in the equilibrium position of each oscillator, we investigate in some detail the deformation of the initial fractal geometry as time evolves. In particular we show that traces of the critical fractal measure can sustain for large times and we extract the properties of the chain which determine the associated time-scales. Our analysis applies generally to critical systems for which, after a slow developing phase where equilibrium conditions are justified, a rapid evolution, induced by a sudden symmetry breaking, emerges in time scales much shorter than the corresponding relaxation or observation time. In particular, it can be used in the fireball evolution in a heavy-ion collision experiment, where the QCD critical point emerges, or in the study of evolving fractals of astrophysical and cosmological scales, and may lead to determination of the initial critical properties of the Universe through observations in the symmetry broken phase.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2007

Evolution of Critical Correlations at the QCD Phase Transition

We investigate the evolution of the density-density correlations in the isoscalar critical condensate formed at the QCD critical point. The initial equilibrium state of the system is characterized by a fractal measure determining the distribution of isoscalar particles (sigmas) in configuration space. Non-equilibrium dynamics is induced through a sudden symmetry breaking leading gradually to the deformation of the initial fractal geometry. After constructing an ensemble of configurations describing the initial state of the isoscalar field we solve the equations of motion and show that remnants of the critical state and the associated fractal geometry survive for time scales larger than the time needed for the mass of the isoscalar particles to reach the two-pion threshold. This result is more transparent in an event-by-event analysis of the phenomenon. Thus, we conclude that the initial fractal properties can eventually be transferred to the observable pion-sector through the decay of the sigmas even in the case of a quench.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

An efficient algorithm simulating a macroscopic system at the critical point

It is well known that conventional simulation algorithms are inefficient for the statistical description of macroscopic systems exactly at the critical point due to the divergence of the corresponding relaxation time (critical slowing down). On the other hand the dynamics in the order parameter space is simplified significantly in this case due to the onset of self-similarity in the associated fluctuation patterns. As a consequence the effective action at the critical point obtains a very simple form. In the present work we show that this simplified action can be used in order to simulate efficiently the statistical properties of a macroscopic system exactly at the critical point. Using the proposed algorithm we generate an ensemble of configurations resembling the characteristic fractal geometry of the critical system related to the self-similar order parameter fluctuations. As an example we simulate the one-component real scalar field theory at the transition point $T=T_c$ as a representative system belonging to the $3-D$ Ising universality class.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2006

Critical Opalescence in Baryonic QCD Matter

We show that critical opalescence, a clear signature of second-order phase transition in conventional matter, manifests itself as critical intermittency in QCD matter produced in experiments with nuclei. This behaviour is revealed in transverse momentum spectra as a pattern of power laws in factorial moments, to all orders, associated with baryon production. This phenomenon together with a similar effect in the isoscalar sector of pions (sigma mode) provide us with a set of observables associated with the search for the QCD critical point in experiments with nuclei at high energies.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Critical QCD in Nuclear Collisions

A detailed study of correlated scalars, produced in collisions of nuclei and associated with the $σ$-field fluctuations, $(δσ)^2= < σ^2 >$, at the QCD critical point (critical fluctuations), is performed on the basis of a critical event generator (Critical Monte-Carlo) developed in our previous work. The aim of this analysis is to reveal suitable observables of critical QCD in the multiparticle environment of simulated events and select appropriate signatures of the critical point, associated with new and strong effects in nuclear collisions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

The Critical Endpoint of Bootstrap and Lattice QCD Matter

The critical sector of strong interactions at high temperatures is explored in the frame of two complementary approaches: Statistical Bootstrap for the hadronic phase and Lattice QCD for the Quark-Gluon partition function. A region of thermodynamic instability of hadronic matter was found, as a direct prediction of Statistical Bootstrap. As a result, critical endpoint solutions for nonzero chemical potential were traced in the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter. These solutions are compared with recent lattice QCD results and their proximity to the freeze-out points of experiments with nuclei at high energies is also discussed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Prospects of detecting the QCD critical point

We investigate the possibility to observe the QCD critical point in A+A collisions at the SPS. Guided by the QCD phase diagram expressed in experimentally accessible variables we suggest that the process C+C at 158 GeV/n freezes out very close to the critical point. We perform an analysis of the available preliminary experimental data for a variety of SPS processes. The basic tool in our efforts is the reconstruction of the critical isoscalar sector which is formed at the critical point. Our results strongly support our proposition regarding the C+C system.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Locating the QCD Critical Point in the Phase Diagram

It is shown that the hadronic matter formed at high temperatures, according to the prescription of the statistical bootstrap principle, develops a critical point at nonzero baryon chemical potential, associated with the end point of a first-order, quark-hadron phase-transition line. The location of the critical point is evaluated as a function of the MIT bag constant.

hep-ph↗