Physics and Astronomy Colloquium: Most vortical fluid - globally polarized Quark-Gluon Plasma

Speaker: Prof. Sergei Voloshin, Wayne State University
Title: Most vortical fluid - globally polarized Quark-Gluon Plasma

Abstract

Ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions provide a unique possibility to study the matter at extreme conditions not available in any other laboratory setting. These include the highest temperature and energy density, strongest electromagnetic fields, lowest viscosity over entropy density (ideal liquid), and what is the main theme of this presentation, the highest vorticity, originating in the large angular momentum of the system.

I will present the recent developments in the understanding of the role of vorticity in high energy nuclear collision dynamics, as well as the latest experimental measurements of the global polarizations - the particle spin alignment with the system orbital momentum. The relation of the global polarization effect to Barnett and Einstein-de Haas effects, as well as to chiral anomalous effects, both in nuclear collisions and condensed matter, will be also briefly discussed.