Finite-Temperature Phase Transitions in SU(3) Lattice Gauge Theory with Dynamical, Light Fermions

Abstract

SU(3) lattice gauge theory with four light quark species is studied at finite temperature by microcanonical computer simulation techniques. An abrupt transition is found separating the hadronic-matter and the quark-gluon-plasma phases. Measurements of the critical temperature, latent heat, $〈\stackrel{-}{\ensuremath{\psi}}\ensuremath{\psi}〉$, Wilson line, and Wilson-line correlation function are presented and are compared to earlier calculations which ignored fermion vacuum polarization.