High-energy nuclear collisions encompass three key stages:the structure of the colliding nuclei,informed by low-energy nuclear physics,the initial condition,leading to the formation of quark-gluon plasma(QGP),and the ...High-energy nuclear collisions encompass three key stages:the structure of the colliding nuclei,informed by low-energy nuclear physics,the initial condition,leading to the formation of quark-gluon plasma(QGP),and the hydrodynamic expansion and hadronization of the QGP,leading to fnal-state hadron distributions that are observed experimentally.Recent advances in both experimental and theoretical methods have ushered in a precision era of heavy-ion collisions,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 these stages to the fnal-state observables.To avoid this,we propose leveraging established knowledge of low-energy nuclear structures and hydrodynamic observables to independently constrain the QGP's initial condition.By conducting comparative studies of collisions involving isobar-like nuclei—species with similar mass numbers but diferent ground-state geometries—we can disentangle the initial condition's impacts from the QGP properties.This approach not only refnes our understanding of the initial stages of the collisions but also turns high-energy nuclear experiments into a precision tool for imaging nuclear structures,ofering insights that complement traditional low-energy approaches.Opportunities for carrying out such comparative experiments at the Large Hadron Collider and other facilities could signifcantly advance both highenergy and low-energy nuclear physics.Additionally,this approach has implications for the future electron-ion collider.While the possibilities are extensive,we focus on selected proposals that could beneft 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 refects the status as of September 2022,with a brief update on developments since then.展开更多
基金U.S.Department of Energy,Office of Science,Ofifce of Nuclear Physics,under Award or Contract No.DE-SC002418(JDB),DE-SC0024602(SH,JJ,CZ),DE-SC0004286(UH),DE-FG02-10ER41666(CL,WL),DE-SC0013365,DE-SC0024586 and DE-SC0023175(DL),DE-SC0011088(YL),DE-AC02-05CH11231(MP),DE-FG02-89ER40531(AT),DE-SC0012704(BS),DE-SC0021969 and DE-SC0024232(CS),DE-SC0023861(JN),DE-FG02-07ER41521(ZX)by National Science Foundation under grant number OAC-2103680(JN)+1 种基金by European Union(ERC,Initial Conditions),VILLUM FONDEN with grant no.00025462,and Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond(YZ)by FAPESP projects 2017/05685-2,2018/24720-6,and 2021/08465-9,project INCT-FNA Proc.~No.~464898/2014-5,and CAPES-Finance Code 001(ML)。
文摘High-energy nuclear collisions encompass three key stages:the structure of the colliding nuclei,informed by low-energy nuclear physics,the initial condition,leading to the formation of quark-gluon plasma(QGP),and the hydrodynamic expansion and hadronization of the QGP,leading to fnal-state hadron distributions that are observed experimentally.Recent advances in both experimental and theoretical methods have ushered in a precision era of heavy-ion collisions,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 these stages to the fnal-state observables.To avoid this,we propose leveraging established knowledge of low-energy nuclear structures and hydrodynamic observables to independently constrain the QGP's initial condition.By conducting comparative studies of collisions involving isobar-like nuclei—species with similar mass numbers but diferent ground-state geometries—we can disentangle the initial condition's impacts from the QGP properties.This approach not only refnes our understanding of the initial stages of the collisions but also turns high-energy nuclear experiments into a precision tool for imaging nuclear structures,ofering insights that complement traditional low-energy approaches.Opportunities for carrying out such comparative experiments at the Large Hadron Collider and other facilities could signifcantly advance both highenergy and low-energy nuclear physics.Additionally,this approach has implications for the future electron-ion collider.While the possibilities are extensive,we focus on selected proposals that could beneft 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 refects the status as of September 2022,with a brief update on developments since then.
