CERN Accelerating science

Article
Report number	arXiv:2209.11042
Title	Imaging the initial condition of heavy-ion collisions and nuclear structure across the nuclide chart
Author(s)	Jia, Jiangyong (Stony Brook U.) ; Giacalone, Giuliano (U. Heidelberg, ITP) ; Bally, Benjamin (IRFU, Saclay) ; Brandenburg, James Daniel (Brookhaven Natl. Lab.) ; Heinz, Ulrich (Ohio State U.) ; Huang, Shengli (Stony Brook U.) ; Lee, Dean (Michigan State U.) ; Lee, Yen-Jie (MIT) ; Loizides, Constantin (Oak Ridge) ; Li, Wei (Rice U.) ; Luzum, Matthew (Sao Paulo U.) ; Nijs, Govert (MIT) ; Noronha-Hostler, Jacquelyn (Illinois U., Urbana (main)) ; Ploskon, Mateusz (LBL, Berkeley) ; van der Schee, Wilke (CERN) ; Schenke, Bjoern (Brookhaven Natl. Lab.) ; Shen, Chun (RIKEN BNL) ; Somà, Vittorio (IRFU, Saclay) ; Timmins, Anthony (Houston U.) ; Xu, Zhangbu (Brookhaven Natl. Lab.) ; Zhou, You (Bohr Inst.)
Publication	2024-12-11
Imprint	2022-09-22
Number of pages	25
In:	Nucl. Sci. Tech. 35 (2024) 220
DOI	10.1007/s41365-024-01589-w (publication)
Subject category	nucl-th ; Nuclear Physics - Theory ; hep-ph ; Particle Physics - Phenomenology ; nucl-ex ; Nuclear Physics - Experiment
Abstract	High-energy nuclear collisions encompass three key stages: the structure of the colliding nuclei informed by low-energy nuclear physics, the initial condition (IC) leading to the formation of quark-gluon plasma (QGP), and the hydrodynamic expansion and hadronization of the QGP leading to final-state hadrons observed experimentally. Recent advances in experimental and theoretical methods have ushered in a precision era, 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 various stages to the final-state observables. To avoid this, we propose leveraging known knowledge of low-energy nuclear structure and hydrodynamic observables to constrain the IC independently. By conducting comparative studies of collisions involving isobar-like nuclei - species with similar mass numbers but different structures - we disentangle the initial condition's impacts from the QGP properties. This approach not only refines our understanding of the IC but also turns high-energy 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 LHC and other facilities could significantly advance both high-energy and low-energy nuclear physics. Additionally, this approach has implications for the future EIC. 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.
Copyright/License	publication: © 2024 The Author(s) (License: CC-BY-4.0) preprint: (License: CC BY 4.0)

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