PhD thesis defense by Zuzana Moravcová

Title: Partonic collectivityin large and small systems at the LHC

Abstract: 

The deconfined nuclear matter, quark-gluon plasma (QGP), that existed within the first microsecond after the Big Bang, can be recreated in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions at particle accelerators. One way to investigate the initial conditions and the dynamic evolution of such a collectively expanding medium is by studying the anisotropic flow. The collective behaviour associated with the presence of QGP is also observed in small collision systems at very high multiplicities with significantly more produced particles than in an average small system collision.

During the defence, you will hear about the measurements of anisotropic flow in both large and small collision systems. The observed similarities between these systems will be discussed. Finally, you will understand why certain particles flow and certain particles form groups and what it means for the QGP creation.