1.

Record Nr.

UNISA996466703203316

Autore

Satz Helmut

Titolo

Extreme States of Matter in Strong Interaction Physics [[electronic resource] ] : An Introduction / / by Helmut Satz

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Berlin, Heidelberg : , : Springer Berlin Heidelberg : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2012

ISBN

3-642-23908-0

Edizione

[1st ed. 2012.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (XIII, 239 p. 116 illus., 20 illus. in color.)

Collana

Lecture Notes in Physics, , 0075-8450 ; ; 841

Disciplina

539.7548

Soggetti

Nuclear physics

Heavy ions

Elementary particles (Physics)

Quantum field theory

Statistical physics

Dynamical systems

Astrophysics

Nuclear Physics, Heavy Ions, Hadrons

Elementary Particles, Quantum Field Theory

Complex Systems

Astrophysics and Astroparticles

Statistical Physics and Dynamical Systems

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

The Analysis of Dense Matter -- The Physics of Complex Systems -- The Limits of Hadron Physics -- From Hadrons to Quarks -- Statistical Quantum Chromodyanamics -- Broken Symmetries -- The QCD Phase Diagram -- The Quark-Gluon Plasma -- The Little Bang -- Probing the Quark-Gluon Plasma -- The Fireball Paradigm -- The Event Horizon of Color Confinement -- Outlook.

Sommario/riassunto

The thermodynamics of strongly interacting matter has become a profound and challenging area of modern physics, both in theory and in experiment. Statistical quantum chromodynamics, through analytical as well as numerical studies, provides the main theoretical tool, while in



experiment, high-energy nuclear collisions are the key for extensive laboratory investigations. The field therefore straddles statistical, particle and nuclear physics, both conceptually and in the methods of investigation used.  This course-tested primer addresses above all the many young scientists starting their scientific research in this field, providing them with a general, self-contained introduction that emphasizes in particular the basic concepts and ideas, with the aim of explaining why we do what we do.  To achieve this goal, the present text concentrates mainly on equilibrium thermodynamics: first, the fundamental ideas of strong interaction thermodynamics are introduced and then the main concepts and methods used in the study of the physics of complex systems are summarized. Subsequently, simplified phenomenological pictures, leading to critical behavior in hadronic matter and to hadron-quark phase transitions are introduced, followed by elements of finite-temperature lattice QCD leading to the important results obtained in computer simulation studies of the lattice approach. Next, the relation of the resulting critical behavior to symmetry breaking/restoration in QCD is clarified before the text turns to the study of the QCD phase diagram. The presentation of bulk equilibrium thermodynamics is completed by studying the properties of the quark-gluon plasma as new state of strongly interacting matter.The final chapters of the book are devoted to more specific topics which arise when nuclear collisions are considered as a tool for the experimental study of QCD thermodynamics.