Relative weights approach to SU(3) gauge theories with dynamical fermions at finite density

We derive effective Polyakov line actions for SU(3) gauge theories with staggered dynamical fermions, for a small sample of lattice couplings, lattice actions, and lattice extensions in the time direction. The derivation is via the method of relative weights, and the theories are solved at finite chemical potential by mean field theory. We find in some instances that the long-range couplings in the effective action are very important to the phase structure, and that these couplings are responsible for long-lived metastable states in the effective theory. Only one of these states corresponds to the underlying lattice gauge theory.