QCD phase diagram in a finite volume in the PNJL model

Abstract

Abstract In this work, we study the quantum chromodynamics phase diagram at finite temperature and non-zero chemical potential in the framework of the SU(2) flavor of the Polyakov–Nambu – Jona–Lasinio model (PNJL). Applying multiple reflection expansion to cubic and spherical finite volumes of different sizes and boundary conditions, the chiral phase transition and deconfinement of strongly interacting matter are analyzed. We give special attention to find and locate the critical endpoint and locating the critical endpoint, if it exists, as a function of the volume size and its shape, and its dependence of chemical potential and temperature.