Project description
A closer look at the inner dynamics of quark-gluon plasma
Understanding how the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) arises from weakly-interacting quarks and gluons is a central challenge in heavy-ion physics. The ERC-funded QGPthroughEECs project applies energy-energy correlators to analyse how jets deposit energy across different scales, offering a new ‘microscope’ for the QGP. Overall, the project aims to shed light on how the QGP modifies particle interactions, responds to energy deposition, and transitions to quasiparticle behaviour, delivering unprecedented insight into the dynamics of one of nature’s most extreme states of matter.
Objective
The Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP) created in high-energy collisions of heavy nuclei at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is an exotic state of matter made of deconfined quarks and gluons, which behaves as a strongly-coupled fluid, with no discernible microscopic particle-like dynamics. Understanding how this strongly-coupled liquid emerges from matter which, at very short distances, is made of weakly-coupled partons stands as one of the paramount challenges in heavy-ion physics for the coming decade. To address this fundamental question, we must probe the QGP at varying resolution scales. QGPthroughEECs proposes an innovative approach to multi-scale microscopy of the QGP, based on examining the structure of the jets' energy flux deposited on the detectors, captured in a class of observables finding their origins in conformal field theories known as energy-energy correlators (EECs). N-point EECs look at the energy distribution of all combinations of N final particles within a jet as a function of their angular distances. Much like temperature correlations of the cosmic microwave background offer insights into the Universe's time evolution, the structure of EECs across their angular regimes gives access to the QGP dynamics at distinct length scales. By developing the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) first-principles framework for heavy-ion jets’ EECs and computing specific EECs sensitive to elusive QGP phenomena, this project aims to answer several long-standing questions about the QGP inner dynamics. These include quantifying the role of color decoherence, unveiling how the QGP modifies the QCD dead-cone effect, establishing compelling evidence of medium response, and determining the length scale at which the description of the QGP in terms of quasiparticles becomes valid. As the person who pioneered the application of EECs to heavy-ion physics and with broad expertise in jet quenching theoretical calculations, the PI is in a unique position to achieve these ambitious goals.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
91128 PALAISEAU CEDEX
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.