A.A. (Heavy Ion Collisions)

A.A. (Heavy Ion Collisions) refer to high-energy experiments where nuclei of heavy elements, like lead or gold, are accelerated and smashed together. This process creates extremely hot and dense conditions similar to those just after the Big Bang, allowing scientists to study how matter behaves under such extreme environments. These collisions help us understand fundamental particles and forces, including the quark-gluon plasma—a state where quarks and gluons, the building blocks of protons and neutrons, move freely. This research enhances our knowledge of the universe’s origins and the fundamental structure of matter.