Quark-gluon plasma: Status of heavy ion physics

Abstract

Abstract. Lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD), defined on a discrete space time lattice, leads to a spectacular non-perturbative prediction of a new state of matter, called quark-gluon plasma (QGP), at sufficiently high temperatures or equivalently large energy densities. The experimental programs of CERN, Geneva and BNL, New York of relativistic heavy ion collisions are expected to produce such energy densities, thereby providing us a chance to test the above prediction. After a brief introduction of the necessary theoretical concepts, I will present a critical review of the experimental results already obtained by the various experiments in order to examine whether QGP has already been observed by them.

Present status of lattice QCD at nonzero T and μ

“…Suppression of the most famous quarkonium, J/ψ, has been widely known as a signal for QGP production in heavy-ion collisions and a lot has been learnt [14] since the early data on this subject. Recently, the NA50 Collaboration from CERN came out with their precise results.…”

Developments in high energy theory

“…One of the major arenas of the application of finite temperature QCD is relativistic heavy-ion collisions [28] where the effects of deconfinement can be studied and the formation (or not) of a proposed quark-gluon plasma (QGP) phase [29] can be checked. Phenomena associated with such collisions, are presently being studied at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven.…”