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Results for “QCD Phase Diagram”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Far From Equilibrium Hydrodynamics and the Beam Energy Scan

The existence of hydrodynamic attractors in rapidly expanding relativistic systems has shed light on the success of relativistic hydrodynamics in describing heavy-ion collisions at zero chemical potential. As the search for the QCD critical point continues, it is important to investigate how out of equilibrium effects influence the trajectories on the QCD phase diagram. In this proceedings, we study a Bjorken expanding hydrodynamic system based on DMNR equations of motion with initial out of equilibrium effects and finite chemical potential in a system with a critical point. We find that the initial conditions are not unique for a specific freeze-out point, but rather the system can evolve to the same final state freeze-out point with a wide range of initial baryon chemical potential, µ B . For the same initial energy density and baryon density, depending on how far out of equilibrium the system begins, the initial µ B can vary by Δµ B ~ 350 MeV. Furthermore, our results indicate that knowledge of the out-of-equilibrium effects in the initial state provide vital information that influences the search for the QCD critical point.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Topological or rotational non-Abelian gauge fields from Einstein-Skyrme holography

We report analytically known states at non-zero temperature which may serve as a powerful tool to reveal common topological and thermodynamic properties of systems ranging from the QCD phase diagram to topological phase transitions in condensed matter materials. In the holographically dual gravity theory, these are analytic solutions to a five-dimensional non-linear-sigma (Skyrme) model dynamically coupled to Einstein gravity. This theory is shown to be holographically dual to \( \mathcal{N} \) = 4 Super-Yang-Mills theory coupled to an SU(2)-current. All solutions are fully backreacted asymptotically Anti-de Sitter (AdS) black branes or holes. One family of global AdS black hole solutions contains non-Abelian gauge field configurations with positive integer Chern numbers and finite energy density. Larger Chern numbers increase the Hawking-Page transition temperature. In the holographically dual field theory this indicates a significant effect on the deconfinement phase transition. Black holes with one Hawking temperature can have distinct Chern numbers, potentially enabling topological transitions. A second family of analytic solutions, rotating black branes, is also provided. These rotating solutions induce states with propagating charge density waves in the dual field theory. We compute the Hawking temperature, entropy density, angular velocity and free energy for these black holes/branes. These correspond to thermodynamic data in the dual field theory. For these states the energy-momentum tensor, (non-)conserved current, and topological charge are interpreted.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Temperature measurement of Quark-Gluon plasma at different stages

In a Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP), the fundamental building blocks of matter, quarks and gluons, are under extreme conditions of temperature and density. A QGP could exist in the early stages of the Universe, and in various objects and events in the cosmos. The thermodynamic and hydrodynamic properties of the QGP are described by Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) and can be studied in heavy-ion collisions. Despite being a key thermodynamic parameter, the QGP temperature is still poorly known. Thermal lepton pairs (e + e − and μ + μ − ) are ideal penetrating probes of the true temperature of the emitting source, since their invariant-mass spectra suffer neither from strong final-state interactions nor from blue-shift effects due to rapid expansion. Here we measure the QGP temperature using thermal e+e− production at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The average temperature from the low-mass region (in-medium ρ 0 vector-meson dominant) is (2.01 ± 0.23) × 10 12 K, consistent with the chemical freeze-out temperature from statistical models and the phase transition temperature from Lattice QCD. The average temperature from the intermediate mass region (above the ρ0 mass, QGP dominant) is significantly higher at (3.25 ± 0.60) × 10 12 K. This work provides essential experimental thermodynamic measurements to map out the QCD phase diagram and understand the properties of matter under extreme conditions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Dynamic modeling for heavy-ion collisions

Recent theory progress in (3+1)D dynamical descriptions of relativistic nuclear collisions at finite baryon density are reviewed. Heavy-ion collisions at different collision energies produce strongly coupled nuclear matter to probe the phase structure of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). Dynamical frameworks serve as a quantitative tool to study properties of hot QCD matter and map collisions to the QCD phase diagram. Outstanding challenges are highlighted when confronting theoretical models with the current and forthcoming experimental measurements from the RHIC beam energy scan program.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Dynamically Exploring the QCD Matter at Finite Temperatures and Densities: A Short Review

We provide a concise review on recent theory advancements towards full-fledged (3+1)D dynamical descriptions of relativistic nuclear collisions at finite baryon density. Heavy-ion collisions at different collision energies produce strongly coupled matter and probe the QCD phase transition at the crossover, critical point, and first-order phase transition regions. Dynamical frameworks provide a quantitative tool to extract properties of hot QCD matter and map fireballs to the QCD phase diagram. Outstanding challenges are highlighted when confronting current theoretical frameworks with current and forthcoming experimental measurements from the RHIC beam energy scan programs.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2020

Net-proton number fluctuations in the presence of the QCD critical point

Event-by-event fluctuations of the net-proton number studied in heavy-ion collisions provide an important means in the search for the conjectured critical end point (CP) in the QCD phase diagram. We propose a phenomenological model in which the fluctuations of the chiral critical mode couple to protons and anti-protons. This allows us to study the behavior of the net-proton number fluctuations in the presence of the CP. Calculating the net-proton number cumulants, Cn with n=1,2,3,4, along the phenomenological freeze-out line we show that the ratio of variance and mean C2/C1, as well as kurtosis C4/C2 resemble qualitative properties observed in data in heavy-ion collisions as a function of beam energy obtained by the STAR Collaboration at RHIC. In particular, the non-monotonic structure of the kurtosis and smooth change of the C2/C1 ratio with beam energy could be due to the CP located near the freeze-out line. The skewness, however, exhibits properties that are in contrast to the criticality expected due to the CP. The dependence of our results on the model parameters and the proximity of the chemical freeze-out to the critical point are also discussed.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Precision Measurement of Net-Proton-Number Fluctuations in Au + Au Collisions at RHIC

We report precision measurements on cumulants (𝐶 𝑛 ) and factorial cumulants (𝜅 𝑛 ) of (net) proton number distributions up to fourth order in Au + Au collisions over center-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7–27 GeV from phase II of the Beam Energy Scan program at RHIC. (Anti)protons are selected at midrapidity (|𝑦| < 0.5) within a transverse momentum range of 0.4 < 𝑝 𝑇 < 2.0 GeV/𝑐. Relative to various noncritical-point model calculations and peripheral collision 70%–80% data, the net proton 𝐶 4 /𝐶 2 measurement in 0%–5% collisions shows a minimum around 19.6 GeV for significance of deviation at ∼2–5⁢𝜎. A minimum in 𝐶 4 /𝐶 2 with respect to a noncritical baseline is expected to be a characteristic feature of the signature associated with a critical point in the QCD phase diagram. In addition, deviations from noncritical baselines around the same collision energy region are also seen in proton factorial cumulant ratios, especially in 𝜅 2 /𝜅 1 and 𝜅 3 /𝜅 1 . As a result, dynamical model calculations including a critical point are called for in order to understand these precision measurements.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Centrality determination with a forward detector in the RHIC Beam Energy Scan

Recently, Chatterjee et al [1] used a hadronic transport model to estimate the resolution with which various experimental quantities select the impact parameter of relativistic heavy ion collisions at collision energies relevant to the Beam Energy Scan (BES) program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Measures based on particle multiplicity at forward rapidity were found to be significantly worse than those based on midrapidity multiplicity. Using the same model, we show that a slightly more sophisticated measure greatly improves the resolution based on forward rapidity particles; this improvement persists even when the model is filtered through a realistic simulation of a recent upgrade detector to the STAR experiment. Furthermore, these results highlight the importance of optimizing centrality measures based on particles detected at forward rapidity, especially for experimental studies that search for a critical point in the QCD phase diagram. Such measurements usually focus on proton multiplicity fluctuations at midrapidity, hence selecting events based on multiplicity at midrapidity raises the possibility of nontrivial autocorrelations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Far-from-equilibrium search for the QCD critical point

Initial conditions for relativistic heavy-ion collisions may be far from equilibrium (i.e., there are large initial contributions from the shear stress tensor and bulk pressure) but it is expected that on very short time scales the dynamics converge to a universal attractor that defines hydrodynamic behavior. Thus far, studies of this nature have only considered an idealized situation at LHC energies (high temperatures T and vanishing baryon chemical potential µ B = 0) but, in this work, we investigate for the first time how far-from-equilibrium effects may influence experimentally driven searches for the Quantum Chromodynamic critical point at RHIC. We find that the path to the critical point is heavily influenced by far from equilibrium initial conditions where viscous effects lead to dramatically different {T, µ B } trajectories through the QCD phase diagram. We compare hydrodynamic equations of motion with shear and bulk coupled together at finite µB for both DNMR and phenomenological Israel-Stewart equations of motion and discuss their influence on potential attractors at finite µ B and their corresponding {T, µ B } trajectories.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Finite density QCD equation of state: Critical point and lattice-based 𝑇′ expansion

Here, we present a novel construction of the QCD equation of state (EoS) at finite baryon density. Our work combines a recently proposed resummation scheme for lattice QCD results with the universal critical behavior at the QCD critical point. This allows us to obtain a family of equations of state in the range 0 ≤ 𝜇 𝐵 ≤ 700 MeV and 25 MeV ≤ 𝑇 ≤ 800 MeV, which match lattice QCD results near 𝜇 𝐵 =0 while featuring a critical point in the 3D Ising model universality class. The position of the critical point can be chosen within the range accessible to beam-energy scan heavy-ion collision experiments. The strength of the singularity and the shape of the critical region are parametrized using a standard parameter set. We impose stability and causality constraints and discuss the available ranges of critical point parameter choices, finding that they extend beyond earlier parametric QCD EoS proposals. We present thermodynamic observables, including baryon density, pressure, entropy density, energy density, baryon susceptibility and speed of sound, that cover a wide range in the QCD phase diagram relevant for experimental exploration.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
DOE OSTI2026

Systematics of the chemical freeze-out line in the high baryon density regime explored at SIS100

The systematic uncertainties of chemical freeze-out fits at SIS100 energies (Au+Au reactions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 3 – 5 GeV) are studied using UrQMD simulations. Although hadron production in UrQMD does not occur on a sharp chemical freeze-out hyper-surface, the extracted fit quality is shown to be very good. The extracted chemical parameters depend on the selected hadron species as well as the underlying equation of state (EoS) of the matter. Including light nuclei and anti-protons in the fit increases the expected freeze-out temperature, while a stiffer EoS increases the obtained chemical potential. Similarly, the baryon densities extracted by the thermal fits depend on the choice of hadrons as well as the underlying equation of state. These results are important for the upcoming CBM@FAIR physics program and highlight that a degree of caution is advised when one relates the chemical freeze-out curve to features on the QCD phase diagram like the critical endpoint or a possible phase transition.

Hofmann, Emma Lilith [GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Sch↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dynamics of hot QCD matter 2024 — Bulk properties

The second Hot QCD Matter 2024 conference at IIT Mandi focused on various ongoing topics in high-energy heavy-ion collisions, encompassing theoretical and experimental perspectives. This proceedings volume includes 19 contributions that collectively explore diverse aspects of the bulk properties of hot QCD matter. The topics encompass the dynamics of electromagnetic fields, transport properties, hadronic matter, spin hydrodynamics, and the role of conserved charges in high-energy environments. These studies significantly enhance our understanding of the complex dynamics of hot QCD matter, the quark–gluon plasma (QGP) formed in high-energy nuclear collisions. Advances in theoretical frameworks, including hydrodynamics, spin dynamics and fluctuation studies, aim to improve theoretical calculations and refine our knowledge of the thermodynamic properties of strongly interacting matter. Experimental efforts, such as those conducted by the ALICE and STAR collaborations, play a vital role in validating these theoretical predictions and deepening our insight into the QCD phase diagram, collectivity in small systems, and the early-stage behavior of strongly interacting matter. In conclusion, combining theoretical models with experimental observations offers a comprehensive understanding of the extreme conditions encountered in relativistic heavy-ion and proton-proton collisions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Bulk Viscosity in Dense Nuclear Matter

NEUTRON star mergers are an extreme environment where, within milliseconds, the cold, dense matter in neutron stars is dramatically heated to some of the hottest temperatures encountered in astrophysics. Matter in neutron star mergers is located solidly in the interior of the QCD phase diagram, and therefore, the observation and simulation of these mergers provides an opportunity to learn about the strong interaction at a set of densities and temperatures that compliment those obtained in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Matter during the merger of two neutron stars is far from hydrostatic equilibrium, allowing for the study of not only the equation of state of dense matter, but of transport properties as well. Perhaps the most likely transport property to play a role in neutron star mergers is the bulk viscosity, which acts to resist changes in density. Furthermore, the bulk viscosity of matter at high densities has long been anticipated to damp oscillations in isolated neutron stars, and the study of its role in neutron star mergers is just beginning.

Harris, Steven P.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Higgs-confinement transitions in QCD from symmetry protected topological phases

In gauge theories with fundamental matter there is typically no sharp way to distinguish confining and Higgs regimes, e.g. using generalized global symmetries acting on loop order parameters. It is standard lore that these two regimes are continuously connected, as has been explicitly demonstrated in certain lattice and continuum models. We point out that Higgsing and confinement sometimes lead to distinct symmetry protected topological (SPT) phases -- necessarily separated by a phase transition -- for ordinary global symmetries. We present explicit examples in 3+1 dimensions, obtained by adding elementary Higgs fields and Yukawa couplings to QCD while preserving parity P and time reversal T. In a suitable scheme, the confining phases of these theories are trivial SPTs, while their Higgs phases are characterized by non-trivial P- and T-invariant theta-angles θ f , θ g = π for flavor or gravity background gauge fields, i.e. they are topological insulators or superconductors. Finally, we consider conventional three-flavor QCD (without elementary Higgs fields) at finite U(1) B baryon-number chemical potential μ B , which preserves P and T. At very large μ B , three-flavor QCD is known to be a completely Higgsed color superconductor that also spontaneously breaks U(1) B . We argue that this high-density phase is in fact a gapless SPT, with a gravitational theta-angle θ g = π that safely co-exists with the U(1) B Nambu-Goldstone boson. We explain why this SPT motivates unexpected transitions in the QCD phase diagram, as well as anomalous surface modes at the boundary of quark-matter cores inside neutron stars.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Illuminating early-stage dynamics of heavy-ion collisions through photons at RHIC BES energies

Heavy-ion collisions at $\sqrt {^SNN}$~10 GeV probe the QCD phase diagram at large baryon densities. Because the longitudinal Lorentz contraction is small at these collision energies, understanding the dynamics during the early phase of the collision is essential for the subsequent modeling of the system evolution and for constraining the QGP transport properties at finite baryon densities. Direct photons provide undistorted information on early-stage dynamics. We model relativistic heavy-ion collisions at RHIC Beam Energy Scan energies with a hybrid dynamical approach consisting of a 3D-Glauber initial state followed by viscous hydrodynamics and hadronic transport (MUSIC + UrQMD). The implemented thermal photon emission takes into account the enhancement from finite baryon chemical potentials. We show that direct photon spectra and their anisotropic flow coefficients have a strong sensitivity to the early stage of heavy-ion collisions. Thus, they provide constraints on QGP dynamics complementary to those obtained from hadronic observables.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

QCD Equation of State and Phase Diagram from Holographic Black Holes

By using the AdS/CFT correspondence, we construct an Einstein-Maxwell-Dilaton model to map the thermodynamics of strongly interacting matter. The holographic model, constrained to reproduce the lattice QCD equation of state at zero baryon chemical potential, predicts a critical end point and a first order phase transition line. We also obtain the equation of state of the model for a large region of the phase diagram. We characterize the crossover transition region by two lines, one associated to the inflection of the second order baryon susceptibility, and another one associated to the minimum of the square of the speed of sound along trajectories of constant entropy per baryon number. We observe that both lines merge at the critical point.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Issues with the search for critical point in QCD with relativistic heavy ion collisions

A systematic search for a critical point in the phase diagram of QCD matter is under way at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and is planned at several future facilities. Its existence, if confirmed, and its location will greatly enhance our understanding of QCD. In this article, we emphasize several important issues that are often not fully recognized in theoretical interpretations of experimental results relevant to the critical point search. Further, we discuss ways in which our understanding on these issues can be improved.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗