Four-dimensional QCD equation of state with a critical surface from contours of constant entropy density

Abstract

We present a new lattice-QCD-based equation of state in the four-dimensional space of $(T,μ_B,μ_Q,μ_S)$ which features a critical surface. This is obtained by generalizing the expansion of constant entropy density contours across the multiple conserved charges of QCD. Since this expansion permits the presence of a first-order phase transition, this is the first lattice QCD based equation of state in four dimensions with a critical surface. We parametrize the chemical potential space using spherical coordinates $(μ,θ,φ)$, reducing the problem to a one-dimensional extrapolation in $(T,μ)$ at fixed angles that, together, span the full 4D space. By integrating the extrapolated entropy density, we reconstruct the pressure, from which we obtain the conserved charge densities, their susceptibilities and the speed of sound. Our results agree quantitatively with other lattice QCD constructions at low chemical potentials in the crossover region, and predict the emergence of a first-order phase transition at higher chemical potentials. We study equation of state properties in detail under heavy-ion collision (HIC) conditions for the strangeness and electric charge densities ($n_S=0,~n_Q=0.4n_B$), where we find the CP location at $(T_c,μ_{B,c},μ_{Q,c},μ_{S,c})=(115\pm7,646\pm72,-12\pm3,117\pm16)$ MeV. In particular, we find a strong non-monotonic dependence of baryon number susceptibilities along the chemical freeze-out line at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} \lesssim 7.7$ GeV. Finally, we outline further applications of the 4D equation of state, including charge-neutral matter relevant to neutron stars and large isospin density relevant to cosmic trajectories in the early Universe.