Complex spectrum of finite-density lattice QCD with static quarks at strong coupling

We calculate the spectrum of transfer matrix eigenvalues associated with Polyakov loops in finite-density lattice QCD with static quarks. These eigenvalues determine the spatial behavior of Polyakov loop correlation functions. Our results are valid for all values of the gauge coupling in 1+1 dimensions and in the strong-coupling region for any number of dimensions. When the quark chemical potential μ is nonzero, the spatial transfer matrix Ts is non-Hermitian. The appearance of complex eigenvalues in Ts is a manifestation of the sign problem in finite-density QCD. The invariance of finite-density QCD under the combined action of charge conjugation C and complex conjugation K implies that the eigenvalues of Ts are either real or part of a complex pair. Calculation of the spectrum confirms the existence of complex pairs in much of the temperature-chemical potential plane. Many features of the spectrum for static quarks are determined by a particle-hole symmetry. For μ that is small compared to the quark mass M, we typically find real eigenvalues for the lowest-lying states. At somewhat larger values of μ, pairs of eigenvalues may form complex-conjugate pairs, leading to damped oscillatory behavior in Polyakov loop correlation functions. However, near μ=M, the low-lying spectrum becomes real again. This is a direct consequence of the approximate particle-hole symmetry at μ=M for heavy quarks. This behavior of the eigenvalues should be observable in lattice simulations and can be used as a test of lattice algorithms. Our results provide independent confirmation of results we have previously obtained in Polyakov-Nambu-Jona-Lasinio models using complex saddle points.