Heavy ion physics: theory

Abstract

Lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) predicts a new state of matter, called quark-gluon plasma (QGP), at sufficiently high temperatures or equivalently large energy densities. Relativistic heavy ion collisions are expected to produce such energy densities, thereby providing us a chance to test the above prediction. After a brief introduction of the necessary theoretical concepts, I present some critical comments on the experimental results with an aim to examine whether QGP has already been observed experimentally.