Critical Points in the Linear Sigma Model with Quarks

E. Scott Bowman, Joseph I. Kapusta

Published 2008-09-30Version 1

We employ a simple effective model to study the chiral dynamics of two flavors of quarks at finite temperature and density. In particular, we determine the phase diagram in the plane of temperature and baryon chemical potential as a function of the pion mass. An interesting phase structure occurs which results in zero, one or two critical points depending on the value of the vacuum pion mass.