Exploring the phase diagram of finite density QCD at low temperature by the complex Langevin method

Abstract

Monte Carlo studies of QCD at finite density suffer from the sign problem, which becomes easily uncontrollable as the chemical potential $\mu$ is increased even for a moderate lattice size. In this work we make an attempt to approach the high density low temperature region by the complex Langevin method (CLM) using four-flavor staggered fermions with reasonably small quark mass on a $8^3 \times 16$ lattice. Unlike the previous work on a $4^3 \times 8$ lattice, the criterion for correct convergence is satisfied within a wide range of $\mu$ without using the deformation technique. In particular, the baryon number density exhibits a plateau behavior consistent with the formation of eight baryons, and it starts to grow gradually at some $\mu$.