Hot strong matter

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent experimental findings on quark-gluon plasma formation in heavy-ion collisions, discussing signatures, energy thresholds, small system behaviors, and the search for the critical point of strongly interacting matter.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent experimental results and methods related to quark-gluon plasma signatures, deconfinement thresholds, and the critical point in high-energy nuclear collisions.

Findings

Identification of convincing quark-gluon plasma signatures at LHC and RHIC.

Methods for evaluating the energy threshold for deconfinement.

First signatures of dense, collective systems in small or elementary collisions.

Abstract

The recent results on relativistic heavy-ion collisions are discussed. The most convincing quark-gluon plasma signatures at the LHC and the top RHIC energies are presented. Moreover, the possible methods of evaluating the energy threshold for deconfinement (onset of deconfinement) are described, and the corresponding results from the RHIC Beam Energy Scan and the SPS programs are shown. Additionally, the first signatures of creating dense and collectively behaving systems in collisions of small nuclei (or even in elementary interactions) are discussed. Finally, the current status of experimental search for the critical point of strongly interacting matter is summarized.