Theory of relativistic heavy ion collisions

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This program aims to provide quantitative characterization of the quark-gluon plasma formed at RHIC (Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, Brookhaven), and soon to be studied at the LHC (Large Hadron Collider, Geneva). Colliding large nuclei at relativistic energies remains the only practical way of studying hot and dense strongly interacting matter in the laboratory. This program therefore contributes to the effort which seeks to map out the phase diagram of QCD (Quantum Chromodynamics: The theory of the strong interaction). The RHIC facility has already produced a variety of fascinating results that indicate we have gone through a doorway into new physics. It is the purpose of this proposal to spell out the theoretical effort required for the understanding of these new features. We focus on rare and penetrating probes: electromagnetic radiation and QCD jets. We also will pursue the non-perturbative evaluation of transport coefficients, using string techniques.