Simulations and Speculations on Gauge Theories with Many Fermions

Abstract

Simulation data of SU(2) and SU(3) gauge theories with a variable number of flavors ranging from zero to eight are gathered together and new data for the eight-flavor case are presented. The finite-temperature chiral transition is studied on 4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${8}^{3}$ lattices and the critical coupling is recorded as a function of the number of flavors ${N}_{f}$. The data exhibit stronger fermion screening as ${N}_{f}$ increases and the SU(3) data display a new first-order phase transition at ${N}_{f}=8$.