A short introduction to heavy-ion physics

CERN-2017-005-SP, pp. 219-238 Heavy-ion collisions provide the only laboratory tests of relativistic quantum field theory at finite temperature. Understanding these is a necessary step in understanding the origins of our universe. These lectures introduce the subject to experimental particle physici...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author Gupta, Sourendu
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 05.08.2015
Subjects
Physics - High Energy Physics - Experiment
Physics - High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Physics - Nuclear Experiment
Physics - Nuclear Theory
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Summary:CERN-2017-005-SP, pp. 219-238 Heavy-ion collisions provide the only laboratory tests of relativistic quantum field theory at finite temperature. Understanding these is a necessary step in understanding the origins of our universe. These lectures introduce the subject to experimental particle physicists, in the hope that they will be useful to others as well. The phase diagram of QCD is briefly touched upon. Kinematic variables which arise in the collisions of heavy-ions beyond those in the collisions of protons or electrons are introduced. Finally, a few of the signals studied in heavy-ion collisions, and the kind of physics questions which they open up are discussed.
Bibliography:TIFR/TH/15-24
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.1508.01136