Exploring the phase structure and thermodynamics of QCD

Abstract

We put forward a Polyakov-loop extended quark meson model, where matter as well as glue fluctuations are taken into account, cf. [1]. The latter are included via a Polyakov-loop potential. Usually such a glue potential is based on Yang-Mills lattice data only. We show that a parametrisation of unquenching effects as proposed in [2], together with the inclusion of fluctuations via the functional renormalisation group [3, 4], accounts for the relevant dynamics. This is demonstrated by a comparison of order parameters and thermodynamic observables to recent lattice results at vanishing chemical potential, where we find very good agreement.