Low-x QCD physics from RHIC and HERA to the LHC

Abstract

We present a summary of the physics of gluon saturation and non-linear QCD evolution at small values of parton momentum fraction $x$ in the proton and nucleus in the context of recent experimental results at HERA and RHIC. The rich physics potential of low-x studies at the LHC, especially in the forward region, is discussed and some benchmark measurements in pp, pA and AA collisions are introduced.Comment: Invited overview talk at the 2nd HERA-LHC Workshop (CERN) and 4th International Conference on Quarks and Nuclear Physics (QNP06, Madrid). 7 pages, 13 figs. To appear in EPJ-