Relativistic Heavy Ions

Science goal: Understand high energy density quantum chromodynamics (QCD) created in relativistic collisions of heavy nuclei.

WL involvement: Havener is a co-convener for the Jets and Hard Photons Physics Working Group; Harris serves on the ALICE Management Board. Yale has contributed to various aspects of preparations and data-taking, including the construction of GEM readout chambers.

Science goal: Understand high energy density quantum chromodynamics (QCD) created in relativistic collisions of heavy nuclei.

WL involvement: Yale has multiple R&D projects, including particle identification detectors. Testing & characterizing photosensors for the pfRICH detector will be done at Wright Lab. Yale is also involved in software development for PID reconstruction.

Science goal: Understand the behavior of nuclear matter under extremes of temperature and density.

WL involvement: Yale plays a critical role in preparations and data-taking, including trigger coordination, shift leadership, on-call detector expertise, and a diverse range of analyses. Caines was co-spokesperson of STAR from 2017-2023

Ian Moult has been developing new techniques in quantum field theory to improve our understanding of real world collider experiments, with applications in particle and nuclear physics. He has played a leading role in the development of jet substructure, which takes advantage of subtle patterns in the structure of energy flow in collisions at the LHC to maximize the discovery potential for new physics and better understand the theory of the strong interaction.