{
  "abstract": "Starting from the identity $e^{2πi J_z}=(-1)^{F}=e^{iπQ}$ on the color-singlet physical state space, we derive a density-operator identity that ties imaginary rotation to an imaginary quark chemical potential, $ρ(Ω_I+2π,θ_q)=ρ(Ω_I,θ_q+π)$. Hence imaginarily rotating $SU(3)$ QCD at $(Ω_I,θ_q)=(2π,0)$ is mapped exactly onto the Roberge-Weiss (RW) point $(0,π)$, where charge conjugation $C$ is spontaneously broken above the RW endpoint---a conclusion independent of any model or approximation. Minimizing the one-loop effective potential on the rotation axis, we obtain analytically, for three massless flavors, the second-order transition at $Ω_{I,C}/π=(22-2\\sqrt{22})/9$, and a subsequent first-order transition at $Ω_{I,{\\rm lock}}/π=2/3+2\\sqrt{111}/27$. At smaller $Ω_I$, a continuous degeneracy of the massless one-loop approximation leaves the realization of $C$ undecided; a finite strange-quark mass lifts it. We also state how the exact relations and the on-axis predictions can be tested in lattice QCD.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2608.25849",
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Rin Takada"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/71j53qfyqeb3k.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2608.25849",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "71j53qfyqeb3k",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.25849",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "hep-ph"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "hep-th"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3106|High-Energy Particle Collisions Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7204434918",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2608.25849",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-30",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/71j53qfyqeb3k.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:41Z",
      "native_id": "2608.25849",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.25849"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:hep-ph",
      "subfield": "high-energy"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Imaginary Rotation Breaks Charge Conjugation in Hot QCD",
  "title_text": "Imaginary Rotation Breaks Charge Conjugation in Hot QCD",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/71j53qfyqeb3k",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}