NT Seminar - Agnieszka Sorensen, Michigan State

Title: Phase Transitions and a Critical Point in Dense Nuclear Matter: Comparisons of Dynamic Simulations to Heavy-Ion Collisions

Abstract: Uncovering the phase diagram of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is at the heart of numerous theoretical, experimental, and observational efforts worldwide. Prominent efforts include studies aiming to identify the location of the QCD critical point (CP) or understand the apparent peak in the speed of sound in high-density nuclear matter. In pursuing these goals, relativistic collisions of heavy nuclei provide unique opportunities to probe hot and dense systems and to study the QCD equation of state (EOS). 

Recent and upcoming results from the Beam Energy Scan at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), given its extraordinary range of available collision energies which can probe systems with vastly different properties, are especially promising. Interpretation of the experimental observables across the RHIC energy range, necessary for uncovering the QCD phase diagram, has been an inspiring challenge for both experiment and theory.

In this talk, I will summarize recent advancements in using experimental data and simulations of heavy-ion collisions to put constraints on the QCD EOS and support the search for the QCD CP.