Exploring spin polarization of heavy quarks in magnetic fields and hot medium

Relativistic heavy-ion collisions give rise to the formation of both deconfined quantum chromodynamics (QCD) matter and a strong magnetic field. The spin of heavy quarks is influenced by interactions with the external magnetic field as well as by random scatterings with thermal light partons. The presence of QCD matter comprising charged quarks can extend the lifetime and strength of the magnetic field, thereby enhancing the degree of heavy quark polarization. However, the random scatterings with QCD matter tend to diminish heavy quark polarization. In this study, we utilize the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation to investigate both these contributions. Taking into account the realistic evolutions of medium temperatures and the in-medium magnetic fields at the BNL Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider and the CERN Large Hadron Collider, we observe that heavy quark polarization is limited by the short lifetime of the magnetic field and the high temperatures of the medium. Furthermore, we explore the mass dependence of quark polarization, revealing that the polarization degree of strange quarks is much larger than that of charm quarks.