Relativistic Heavy Ion Physics

Relativistic Heavy Ion Physics studies what happens when nuclei of atoms, especially heavy ones like gold or lead, are accelerated to speeds close to light. At these extreme energies, they create conditions similar to those just after the Big Bang, forming a state called quark-gluon plasma where particles are free from their usual confines. Researchers explore these collisions to understand fundamental forces, the origin of mass, and how matter behaved in the early universe. It combines principles of nuclear and particle physics, high-speed technology, and advanced detectors to reveal the properties of matter under extreme conditions.