The exploration of hot and dense nuclear matter: introduction to relativistic heavy-ion physics
Hannah Elfner, Berndt Müller
Abstract
Abstract This article summarizes our present knowledge about nuclear matter at the highest energy densities and its formation in relativistic heavy ion collisions. We review what is known about the structure and properties of the quark-gluon plasma and survey the observables that are used to glean information about it from experimental data.
Topics & Concepts
PhysicsHeavy ionNuclear physicsQuark–gluon plasmaNuclear matterObservableDense matterParticle physicsPlasmaQuarkIonAstrophysicsNucleonQuantum mechanicsNeutron starHigh-Energy Particle Collisions ResearchQuantum Chromodynamics and Particle InteractionsParticle physics theoretical and experimental studies