IMSc Webinar

"Golden Ages in Physics: Heavy Ion Physics at High Energies, and Neutron Stars"

Rob Pisarski

BNL

I give a historical introduction to the modern theory of nuclear physics, Quantum ChromoDynamics. I emphasize the role
which serendipity plays, and how certain individuals, who disagree with the common consensus, can be vindicated.
I then review the startling experimental success of heavy ion collisions at RHIC at Brookhaven Lab, and the LHC at CERN.
This indicates the formation of a Quark-Gluon Plasma at about a trillion degrees. I then outline some recent results in
chiral spiral in cold, dense QCD, and how it forms a pionic Quantum Spin Liquid.