The zeros of the QCD partition function

We establish a relationship between the zeros of the partition function in the complex mass plane and the spectral properties of the Dirac operator in QCD. This relation is derived within the context of chiral Random Matrix T heory and applies to QCD when chiral symmetry is spontaneously broken. Furt her, we introduce and examine the concept of normal modes in chiral spectra . Using this formalism we study the consequences of a finite Thouless energ y for the zeros of the partition function. This leads to the demonstration that certain features of the QCD partition function are universal. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.