off-center heavy ion collision creates quark gluon plasma (IMAGE)

DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory

off-center heavy ion collision creates quark gluon plasma

Caption

Collisions of heavy ions "melt" the boundaries of individual protons and neutrons, setting free the quarks and gluons normally confined within to create a quark-gluon plasma (QGP). Scientists look for spin alignment preferences among particles emerging from the QGP by tracking the distribution of their decay products relative to an imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the reaction plane of the colliding nuclei.

Credit

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Usage Restrictions

OK for use with stories about this research

License

Original content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.