Lattice QCD at non-zero baryon number

Abstract

We discuss the quenched limit of lattice QCD at non-zero baryon number density. We find evidence for a mixed phase that becomes broader with increasing baryon number. Although the action is explicitly Z(3) symmetric the Polyakov loop expectation value becomes non-zero already in the low temperature phase. It indicates that the heavy quark potential stays finite at large distances, i.e. the string between static quarks breaks at non-zero baryon number density already in the hadronic phase. This behaviour is validated by calculating the heavy quark potential using Polyakov loop correlations.