2019/08/06 by Soeren Schlichting, Derek Teaney · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #nucl-th #hep-ph #hep-th
paper · pdf · doi:10.1146/annurev-nucl-101918-023825
31 pages, 7 figures
arxiv created 2019/08/06 · arxiv updated 2020/01/08
We present an introductory review of the early time dynamics of high-energy heavy-ion collisions and the kinetics of high temperature QCD. The equilibration mechanisms in the quark-gluon plasma uniquely reflect the non-abelian and ultra-relativistic character of the many body system. Starting with a brief expose of the key theoretical and experimental questions, we provide an overview of the theoretical tools employed in weak coupling studies of the early time non-equilibrium dynamics. We highlight theoretical progress in understanding different thermalization mechanisms in weakly coupled non-abelian plasmas, and discuss their relevance in describing the approach to local thermal equilibrium during the first \rm fm/c of a heavy-ion collision. Some important connections to the phenomenology of heavy-ion collisions are also briefly discussed.