Finite-temperature phase transition of $N_{f}=3$ QCD with exact center symmetry

Abstract: For the $Z_{3}$-symmetric lattice QCD-like theory ($Z_3$-QCD), in which $SU(3)$ gauge theory is coupled with three fundamental Wilson quarks with flavor-dependent twisted boundary conditions, we calculate the expectation values of Polyakov loop and chiral condensate as functions of temperature on $16^3 \times4$ and $20^3 \times 4$ lattices with $m_{PS}/m_{V}=0.70$ fixed. We find the first-order phase transition with respect to the $Z_{3}$ center symmetry, where the Polyakov loop exhibits a hysteresis depending on the initial condition of thermalization process. We also show that the crossover behavior of chiral condensate around the critical temperature of the center transition and the manifestation of flavor symmetry breaking in the high-temperature phase.