Finite temperature properties of a modified Polyakov$-$Nambu$-$Jona-Lasinio model

Abstract

Thermodynamic properties of strongly interacting matter are investigated using the Polyakov loop enhanced Nambu$-$Jona-Lasinio model along with some modifications to include the hadrons. Various observables are shown to have a close agreement with the numerical data of QCD on lattice. The advantage of the present scheme over a similar study using a switching function is that here no extra parameters are to be fitted. As a result the present scheme can be easily extended for finite chemical potentials.