Heavy-Ion collisions: A window into the QCD phase structure

Talk by Dr. Md Nasim (IISER, Berhampur) on the topic 'Heavy-Ion collisions: A window into the QCD phase structure' during the 36th mid year meeting of the IASc. The event was hosted in the IISc, Bengaluru on 04 July 2025.

Abstract of the talk published as follows.

Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) is the fundamental theory that describes
how the smallest building blocks of matter—quarks and gluons—interact.
Under normal conditions, these particles are tightly confined within protons,
neutrons, and other hadrons. However, at extremely high temperatures or
densities, QCD predicts that quarks and gluons can become free, creating a
new state of matter known as the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP). Relativistic heavy-
ion collisions offer a powerful way to recreate and study this extraordinary
state in the laboratory. By varying the energy of these collisions, experiments
can explore different regions of the QCD phase diagram, which maps how
strongly interacting matter behaves under extreme conditions.
In this talk, I will present recent results from the Beam Energy Scan (BES)
program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). We will focus on
important observables such as collective flow, strangeness enhancement,
and jet quenching, examining how these signals change with collision energy.
By comparing these experimental findings with theoretical models, we aim
to deepen our understanding of the various phases of matter predicted by
QCD.