Reliability of Taylor expansions in QCD

Abstract

We investigate the reliability of the Taylor expansion method in QCD with isospin chemical potentials using lattice simulations. By comparing the expansion of the number density to direct results, the range of validity of the leading- and next-to-leading order expansions is determined. We also elaborate on the convergence properties of the Taylor series by comparing the leading estimate for the radius of convergence to the position of the nearest singularity, i.e., the onset of pion condensation. Our results may provide a handle for assessing the uncertainties of Taylor expansions in baryon chemical potentials.