Helmholtz Research Academy Hesse for FAIR

Hot and dense matter

Hot and dense matter

The physics of the strong interaction is the basis of this main research topic. At densities and temperatures as high as shortly after the big bang, nuclei are melting together and form a plasma consisting of quarks and gluons, so-called quark-gluon plasma.

Such extreme densities are still today existing inside neutron stars and in supernovae explosions and - for very short time - in heavy ion collisions at FAIR. 

Such collisions will be measured with the CBM detector and then analysed. For this purpose, state of the art detectors are developed with cutting edge technologies. Similarly, the theoretical description is part of this research topic at the same level of innovation capacity. The collisions of nuclei can be simulated and the observables be predicted with unprecedented precision. Scientists of the Research Academy can thus approach and progress to solve the puzzle of how the universe looked like shortly after the big bang.

Persons

Selected projects of this research topic

Hot and dense matter