Lattice QCD thermodynamic results with improved staggered fermions

Abstract

We present results on the QCD equation of state, obtained with two different improved dynamical staggered fermion actions and almost physical quark masses. Lattice cut-off effect are discussed in detail as results for three different lattice spacings are available now, i.e. results have been obtained on lattices with temporal extent of $N_τ=4,6$ and 8. Furthermore we discuss the Taylor expansion approach to non-zero baryon chemical potential and present the isentropic equation of state on lines of constant entropy per baryon number.

Invited talk given at the 3rd International Conference on Hard and Electromagnetic Probes of High-Energy Nuclear Collisions, 8-14 June 2008, Illa da Toxa, Spain; 7 pages, 6 figures