We study numerically the strong coupling limit of lattice QCD with one flavor of massless staggered quarks. We determine the complete phase diagram as a function of temperature and chemical potential, including a tricritical point. We clarify the nature of the low temperature dense phase, which is strongly bound “nuclear” matter. This strong binding is explained by the nuclear potential, which we measure. Finally, we determine, from this first-principles limiting case of QCD, the masses of “atomic nuclei” up to $A=12$ “carbon”.

• Received 4 September 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.112005