Heavy-ion physics

Objectives:

The goal of the course is to convey an understanding of the properties of strongly interacting nuclear matter at temperatures and densities, and how this is probed at contemporary particle colliders.

Content:

The course describes the main features of the strong nuclear force, described on a microscopical level by quantum chromodynamics, at high temperatures and densities including equation of state for nuclear matter, statistical description of thermodynamical properties and phase transitions of the quark-gluon plasma. The course introduces a description of the main classes of observables and how they are theoretically modeled.

On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• should have a thorough overview over heavy ion physics at medium and high energies and a broad basis for further experimental and theoretical studies.
• should describe the main features of the phase diagram of a quark-gluon plasma.
• should know the relevant kinematical variables in collider experiments and be able to describe the geometry and time evolution of heavy-ion collisions.
• should be able to describe how flow observables are measured experimentally, and how they are a signature of the transport coefficients of the QGP.
• should know what jet observables are, how they are described in QCD, how to reconstruct jets in experiment, and be familiar with how the QGP modifies jets.

Skills

The student

• should be able to explain concepts such as elastic and inelastic cross sections and combine them with a geometrical picture of relativistic collisions.
• should be able to compute yields of particles produced in a heavy-ion collision using a statistical description.
• should be able to engage with recent literature on particle and heavy-ion physics.

General competence

The student

• should develop collaborative skills through teamwork on projects related to heavy-ion physics, enhancing their ability to work effectively in diverse groups.
• should cultivate critical thinking and analytical skills by engaging in peer review.
• should learn to integrate interdisciplinary approaches by connecting concepts from theoretical physics, experimental techniques, and data analysis in their research.