Public Abstract

DE-FG02-96ER40981: Research in Heavy-Ion Nuclear Physics at CMS

Award Status: Inactive

Institution: University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc., Lawrence, KS
UEI: SSUJB3GSH8A5
DUNS: 076248616

Most Recent Award Date: 05/02/2023
Number of Support Periods: 26
PM: Margetis, Spyridon

Current Budget Period: 06/01/2022 - 05/31/2023
Current Project Period: 06/01/2020 - 05/31/2023
PI: Murray, Michael

Supplement Budget Period: N/A

Public Abstract

Research in Heavy-Ion Nuclear Physics at CMS Stephen Sanders, University of Kansas (Principal Investigator) The University of Kansas group is exploring the extreme state of matter formed during the collision of two lead nuclei traveling at relativistic speeds. During these collisions constituent protons and neutrons loose their identity with the formation of a plasma state of more elementary quark and gluon particles, a so-called "quark-gluon plasma." The creation of this plasma state was first conclusively demonstrated in experiments at Brookhaven National Laboratories over a decade ago, with members of the KU group active participants in these early studies. However, there still remain many unanswered questions regarding the formation and nature of the created medium. The KU group is focussed on two key questions. The first relates to the state of the colliding nuclei immediately before the collisions. It is not yet clear what configuration of quarks and gluons exists at the point of impact. Understanding many of the subsequent, observed properties requires a better understanding of this initial state configuration. The second question is related to the system size needed for the formation of the plasma state. While theory calculations anticipated such a state when colliding very heavy nuclei, it is now found that the state is also created in collisions involving a greatly reduced overlap of the nuclear matter. It has been conjectured that plasma "droplets" might be formed, but this is still being debated. For both questions, the KU group is working with the Compact Muon Spectrometer detector at the Large Hadron Collider outside of Geneva, Switzerland. Data involving lead colliding on lead, protons colliding on lead, and protons colliding with other protons are all be analyzed. In addition to the senior faculty leading this effort, the Department of Energy funding is also supporting a number of postdoctoral research associates and graduate students. There are also several KU undergraduate researchers working on this project.

Research in Heavy-Ion Nuclear Physics at CMS

Stephen Sanders, University of Kansas (Principal Investigator)

The University of Kansas group is exploring the extreme state of matter formed during the collision of two lead nuclei traveling at relativistic speeds. During these collisions constituent protons and neutrons loose their identity with the formation of a plasma state of more elementary quark and gluon particles, a so-called "quark-gluon plasma." The creation of this plasma state was first conclusively demonstrated in experiments at Brookhaven National Laboratories over a decade ago, with members of the KU group active participants in these early studies. However, there still remain many unanswered questions regarding the formation and nature of the created medium. The KU group is focussed on two key questions. The first relates to the state of the colliding nuclei immediately before the collisions. It is not yet clear what configuration of quarks and gluons exists at the point of impact. Understanding many of the subsequent, observed properties requires a better understanding of this initial state configuration. The second question is related to the system size needed for the formation of the plasma state. While theory calculations anticipated such a state when colliding very heavy nuclei, it is now found that the state is also created in collisions involving a greatly reduced overlap of the nuclear matter. It has been conjectured that plasma "droplets" might be formed, but this is still being debated. For both questions, the KU group is working with the Compact Muon Spectrometer detector at the Large Hadron Collider outside of Geneva, Switzerland. Data involving lead colliding on lead, protons colliding on lead, and protons colliding with other protons are all be analyzed. In addition to the senior faculty leading this effort, the Department of Energy funding is also supporting a number of postdoctoral research associates and graduate students. There are also several KU undergraduate researchers working on this project.