QCD Thermodynamics with Domain Wall Fermions

Abstract

We present our recent studies of the pseudo-critical temperature, $T_c$, of QCD using domain wall fermions. Domain wall fermions have the advantage that they preserve exact SU(2) chiral symmetry at finite lattice spacing in the limit that $L_s\to \infty$. The RBC Collaboration has performed a set of dynamical calculations at $L_s=32$ and $N_t=8$ using the Iwasaki gauge action with two light quarks ($m_{l}a=0.003$) and one strange quark ($m_{s}a=0.037$). A clear signal for the crossover transition can be seen in the light chiral susceptibility, as well as in the Wilson line. However, at $L_s=32$, the residual chiral symmetry breaking is not yet fully under control. We also present preliminary results from the HotQCD Collaboration with $N_t=8$ and $L_s=96$, where the effects of the residual chiral symmetry breaking are reduced compared to $L_s=32$.

7 pages, 6 figures. Talk presented at the XXVI International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory, July 14-19, 2008, Williamsburg, Virginia, US