When atomic nuclei smash together at nearly light speed, protons and neutrons break apart, liberating quarks and gluons. This state of matter, the QGP, mirrors conditions that existed fractions of a second after the Big Bang. To analyze it accurately, scientists need precise models of the collision's initial geometry and energy density.
The team solved equations describing how the internal structure of protons and nuclei evolve with collision energy. Their models reproduce the observed patterns of particles generated in experiments more accurately than before, giving a sharper picture of the QGP's emergence.
"This research helps reveal how nuclear matter behaves under extreme conditions, like those that existed just after the Big Bang. By making models of these collisions more accurate, we can better measure the properties of the QGP," said Associate Professor Heikki Mantysaari of the University of Jyvaskyla.
The improved models align closely with experimental results from Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and CERN. Linking theoretical predictions with data allows researchers to extract QGP properties more precisely, while anticipation builds for the Electron-Ion Collider scheduled to begin operations at BNL in the 2030s.
The University of Jyvaskyla hosts the Centre of Excellence in Quark Matter, supported by the Research Council of Finland, which investigates the strong nuclear force binding quarks and gluons. Mantysaari emphasized that collaboration between theorists and experimentalists is essential, particularly as measurements at CERN and other facilities grow in complexity.
"International research collaboration is crucial, especially when combining experimental and theoretical knowledge. Experiments are becoming increasingly complex, which is why it is more important than ever that all parties understand what is being measured and how phenomena are modeled theoretically. This is also the main motivation behind our Centre of Excellence: it brings together theorists and experimentalists performing measurements at CERN. This shared understanding is key to advancing the field," Mantysaari noted.
Research Report:Collision-Energy Dependence in Heavy-Ion Collisions from Nonlinear QCD Evolution
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University of Jyvaskyla
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