Nuclear Physics Seminar: Wilke van der Schee, CERN & Utrecht University

Title: "Global analyses of ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions in the LHC era”

Abstract: Heavy ion collisions quickly form a droplet of quark–gluon plasma (QGP) with a remarkably small viscosity. This smallest and hottest fluid on earth can only be understood by studying a multitude of physical stages, including a far-from-equilibrium colliding stage, a stage described by viscous relativistic hydrodynamics and as a gas of hadrons that can finally be detected by all ALICE, ATLAS, CMS and LHCb experiments at CERN. Linking these phases I will describe how a global Bayesian analysis can leverage a wide variety of such experimental data to gain knowledge about the QGPs intrinsic properties. I will then highlight some recent progress in our understanding, which includes the neutron skin of Pb-208, the total hadronic cross section and specifically interesting aspects of extremely ultracentral heavy ion collisions. Finally I will present an upcoming analysis of the shape of Xe-129.