A RENORMALIZATION-GROUP APPROACH TO THE CHIRAL TRANSITION

A methodology is given to test the QCD N-f=2 chiral transition, presently conjectured to be second order. Scaling forms for the correlation length, susceptibilities, and equation of state are given which account for finite lattice spacing. Confirmation by lattice simulation would provide a large set of consistency checks for establishing that the transition is second order. Further corrections from finite volume effects and higher dimensional operator mixing are given. The implications of scaling corrections in finite temperature QCD studies are examined with emphasis on tests for the believed second-order chiral transition within the realistic setting of finite lattice spacing effects. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.