Speaker: Jorgen Randrup (Nuclear Science Division, LBNL)

Probing chiral symmetry restoration in high-energy nuclear collisions?

High-energy nuclear collisions (such as those currently being explored at RHIC) produce extended strongly interacting environments in which the excitation suffices to restore approximate chiral symmetry. If this indeed happens, the subsequent rapid expansion and cooling may cause the chiral order parameter to undergo a non-equilibrium evolution as it relaxes back to its normal vacuum value. These general expectations have led to considerable activity regarding the possible signatures of this fundamental phase transition. I will give an overview of the theoretical expectations, present calculations of the chiral relaxation dynamics within the linear sigma model, and discuss possible experimental observables.