2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/210858The finite temperature phase transition of strongly interacting matter is studied within a nonlocal chiral quark model of the NJL type coupled to a Polyakov loop. In contrast to previous investigations which were restricted to the mean-field approximation, mesonic correlations are included by evaluating the quark-antiquark ring sum. For physical pion masses, we find that the pions dominate the pressure below the phase transition, whereas above T_c the pressure is well described by the mean-field approximation result. For large pion masses, as realized in lattice simulations, the meson effects are suppressed.11 pages, 4 figures; version accepted for publication in Yad. Fiz., text extended, 1 figure addedHigh Energy Physics - PhenomenologyNuclear Theorytext