Thermodynamics of Deconfined QCD at Small and Large Chemical Potential

We present large $N_f$ QCD/QED as a test bed for improved pressure calculations, show how to apply the hints obtained on optimized renormalization scales at large $N_f$ to finite $N_f=2$, and compare the results to recent lattice data.Comment: 5 pages, to appear in the proceedings of SEWM 2004, Helsinki, 16-19 June 200

The pressure of deconfined QCD for all temperatures and quark chemical potentials

A new method for the evaluation of the perturbative expansion of the QCD pressure is presented which is valid for all temperatures and quark chemical potentials in the deconfined phase, and worked out up to and including order g^4. This new approach unifies several distinct perturbative approaches to the equation of state, and agrees with dimensional reduction, HDL and HTL resummation schemes, and the zero-temperature result in their respective ranges of validity.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, to appear in the proceedings of Strong and Electroweak Matter 2006 (SEWM), BNL, May 200

Rapidity profiles from 3+1D Glasma simulations with finite longitudinal thickness

We present our progress on simulating the Glasma in the early stages of heavy ion collisions in a non-boost-invariant setting. Our approach allows us to describe colliding nuclei with finite longitudinal width by extending the McLerran-Venugopalan model to include a parameter for the Lorentz-contracted but finite extent of the nucleus in the beam direction. We determine the rapidity profile of the Glasma energy density, which shows strong deviations from the boost invariant result. Both broad and narrow profiles can be produced by varying the initial conditions. We find reasonable agreement when we compare the results to rapidity profiles of measured pion multiplicities from RHIC.Comment: 5+1 pages, 2 figures, prepared for Proceedings of the European Physical Society Conference on High Energy Physics (EPS-HEP) 201

Broken boost invariance in the Glasma via finite nuclei thickness

We simulate the creation and evolution of non-boost-invariant Glasma in the early stages of heavy ion collisions within the color glass condensate framework. This is accomplished by extending the McLerran-Venugopalan model to include a parameter for the Lorentz-contracted but finite width of the nucleus in the beam direction. We determine the rapidity profile of the Glasma energy density, which shows deviations from the boost-invariant result. Varying the parameters both broad and narrow profiles can be produced. We compare our results to experimental data from RHIC and find surprising agreement.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Yoctosecond metrology through HBT correlations from a quark-gluon plasma

Expansion dynamics at the yoctosecond timescale affect the evolution of the quark gluon plasma (QGP) created in heavy ion collisions. We show how these dynamics are accessible through Hanbury Brown and Twiss (HBT) intensity interferometry of direct photons emitted from the interior of the QGP. A detector placed close to the beam axis is particularly sensitive to early polar momentum anisotropies of the QGP. Observing a modification of the HBT signal at the proposed FoCal detector of the LHC ALICE experiment would allow to measure the isotropization time of the plasma and could provide first experimental evidence for photon double pulses at the yoctosecond timescale.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Yoctosecond photon pulses from quark-gluon plasmas

Present ultra-fast laser optics is at the frontier between atto- and zeptosecond photon pulses, giving rise to unprecedented applications. We show that high-energetic photon pulses down to the yoctosecond timescale can be produced in heavy ion collisions. We focus on photons produced during the initial phase of the expanding quark-gluon plasma. We study how the time evolution and properties of the plasma may influence the duration and shape of the photon pulse. Prospects for achieving double peak structures suitable for pump-probe experiments at the yoctosecond timescale are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures; final version as accepted by PR