Second-order chiral phase transition in three-flavor quantum chromodynamics?

We calculate the renormalization group flows of all perturbatively renormalizable interactions in the three-dimensional Ginzburg-Landau potential for the chiral phase transition of three-flavor quantum chromodynamics. On the contrary to the common belief we find a fixed point in the system that is able to describe a second-order phase transition in the infrared. This shows that long-standing assumptions on the transition order might be false. If the transition is indeed of second order, our results may hint that the axial U(1) symmetry restores at the transition temperature.

Automated summary

This study calculates the renormalization group flows of perturbatively renormalizable interactions in the three-dimensional Ginzburg-Landau potential for the chiral phase transition of three-flavor quantum chromodynamics. Contrary to common belief, a fixed point capable of describing a second-order phase transition in the infrared exists in the system. This challenges long-standing assumptions about the transition order.