Heavy-ion physics at the LHC: Review of Run I results

TL;DR

This review summarizes key findings from heavy-ion collisions at the LHC, focusing on the properties of the quark-gluon plasma and debates on its formation in small systems.

Contribution

It provides a concise overview of the current understanding and recent debates in heavy-ion physics at the LHC, highlighting unresolved questions.

Findings

Characterization of hot and dense QCD medium

Discussion on potential QGP formation in small systems

Summary of recent experimental results

Abstract

In this work we review what we consider are, some of the most relevant results of heavy-ion physics at the LHC. This paper is not intended to cover all the many important results of the experiments, instead we present a brief overview of the current status on the characterization of the hot and dense QCD medium produced in the heavy-ion collisions. Recent exciting results which are still under debate are discussed too, leading to intriguing questions like whether we have a real or fake QGP formation in small systems.