Imaging the initial condition of heavy-ion collisions and nuclear structure across the nuclide chart

Abstract High-energy nuclear collisions encompass three key stages: the structure of the colliding nuclei, informed by low-energy nuclear physics, the initial condition , leading to the formation of quark–gluon plasma (QGP), and the hydrodynamic expansion and hadronization of the QGP, leading to final-state hadron distributions that are observed experimentally. Recent advances in both experimental and theoretical methods have ushered in a precision era of heavy-ion collisions, enabling an increasingly accurate understanding of these stages. However, most approaches involve simultaneously determining both QGP properties and initial conditions from a single collision system, creating complexity due to the coupled contributions of these stages to the final-state observables. To avoid this, we propose leveraging established knowledge of low-energy nuclear structures and hydrodynamic observables to independently constrain the QGP’s initial condition. By conducting comparative studies of collisions involving isobar-like nuclei—species with similar mass numbers but different ground-state geometries—we can disentangle the initial condition’s impacts from the QGP properties. This approach not only refines our understanding of the initial stages of the collisions but also turns high-energy nuclear experiments into a precision tool for imaging nuclear structures, offering insights that complement traditional low-energy approaches. Opportunities for carrying out such comparative experiments at the Large Hadron Collider and other facilities could significantly advance both high-energy and low-energy nuclear physics. Additionally, this approach has implications for the future electron-ion collider. While the possibilities are extensive, we focus on selected proposals that could benefit both the high-energy and low-energy nuclear physics communities. Originally prepared as input for the long-range plan of U.S. nuclear physics, this white paper reflects the status as of September 2022, with a brief update on developments since then.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nuclear Science and Techniques
Published
2024-12-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41365-024-01589-w
Citations
44
Primary Topic
High-Energy Particle Collisions Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
29.02

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Imaging the initial condition of heavy-ion collisions and nuclear structure across the nuclide chart

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Imaging the initial condition of heavy-ion collisions and nuclear structure across the nuclide chart

Matthew Luzum, Jacquelyn Noronha-Hostler, Wilke van der Schee, Chun Shen, Govert Nijs, J. Jia, Giuliano Giacalone, S. Huang, B. Bally, V. Somà, Ulrich Heinz, Dean Lee, C. Loizides, Anthony Timmins, Yen-Jie Lee, James Daniel Brandenburg, Mateusz Andrzej Ploskon, Bjoern Schenke, Y. Zhou, Wei Li, Zhangbu Xu
article en
44 citations

Abstract

Abstract High-energy nuclear collisions encompass three key stages: the structure of the colliding nuclei, informed by low-energy nuclear physics, the initial condition , leading to the formation of quark–gluon plasma (QGP), and the hydrodynamic expansion and hadronization of the QGP, leading to final-state hadron distributions that are observed experimentally. Recent advances in both experimental and theoretical methods have ushered in a precision era of heavy-ion collisions, enabling an increasingly accurate understanding of these stages. However, most approaches involve simultaneously determining both QGP properties and initial conditions from a single collision system, creating complexity due to the coupled contributions of these stages to the final-state observables. To avoid this, we propose leveraging established knowledge of low-energy nuclear structures and hydrodynamic observables to independently constrain the QGP’s initial condition. By conducting comparative studies of collisions involving isobar-like nuclei—species with similar mass numbers but different ground-state geometries—we can disentangle the initial condition’s impacts from the QGP properties. This approach not only refines our understanding of the initial stages of the collisions but also turns high-energy nuclear experiments into a precision tool for imaging nuclear structures, offering insights that complement traditional low-energy approaches. Opportunities for carrying out such comparative experiments at the Large Hadron Collider and other facilities could significantly advance both high-energy and low-energy nuclear physics. Additionally, this approach has implications for the future electron-ion collider. While the possibilities are extensive, we focus on selected proposals that could benefit both the high-energy and low-energy nuclear physics communities. Originally prepared as input for the long-range plan of U.S. nuclear physics, this white paper reflects the status as of September 2022, with a brief update on developments since then.

Nuclear Science and TechniquesVol. 35(12)
University of Copenhagen (DK), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US), Kent State University (US), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US), Universidade de São Paulo (BR), Wayne State University (US), Brookhaven National Laboratory (US), Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR), Université Paris-Saclay (FR), CEA Paris-Saclay (FR), RIKEN BNL Research Center (US), Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers (FR), University of Houston (US), The Ohio State University (US), Stony Brook University (US), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US), European Organization for Nuclear Research (CH), Rice University (US), Michigan State University (US)
National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Villum Fonden, CERN, European Commission, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Emberi Eroforrások Minisztériuma, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia: Física Nuclear e Aplicações, Office of Science, Nuclear Physics
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 0%
High-Energy Particle Collisions Research
29.02
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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