More on the flavor dependence of $m_\varrho / f_\pi$

Abstract

In previous work, arXiv:1905.01909, we have calculated the $m_\varrho / f_\pi$ ratio in the chiral and continuum limit for $SU(3)$ gauge theory coupled to $N_f = 2,3,4,5,6$ fermions in the fundamental representation. The main result was that this ratio displays no statistically significant $N_f$-dependence. In the present work we continue the study of the $N_f$-dependence by extending the simulations to $N_f = 7, 8, 9, 10$. Along the way we also study in detail the $N_f$-dependence of finite volume effects on low energy observables and a particular translational symmetry breaking unphysical, lattice artefact phase specific to staggered fermions.