Title : Nuclear Matter in extreme conditions

Speaker: Dr. Aritra Bandyopadhyay, Heidelberg University, Germany

Abstract: What happens to strongly interacting nuclear matter in extreme conditions, such as in the very early universe or at the centre of a compact star? How does nuclear matter transform into quark matter, consisting of quasi-free quarks and gluons? Answers to these questions are hidden within the phase diagram of the strongly interacting matter, i.e. QCD phase diagram. Ongoing ultra relativistic heavy-ion collision (HIC) experiments and several theoretical methods are currently in active pursuit of understanding various aspects of the same. In addition to temperature and density, emerging facets of the QCD phase diagram such as the inclusion of external magnetic fields or finite isospin density are also gaining huge attention within the Heavy-ion community.

Theoretical exploration of hot/dense/magnetised/isospin asymmetric nuclear and quark matter typically proceeds along perturbative and nonperturbative avenues. My research focus revolves around leveraging both perturbative and nonperturbative methodologies to meticulously probe the QCD phase diagram. In this colloquium, I will discuss recent advancements in these areas and my contributions, emphasising their relevance to ongoing and future experimental endeavours.