22–27 Mar 2026
US/Pacific timezone

Eigen-microstate Signatures of Criticality in Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collisions

24 Mar 2026, 16:25
20m
Kinsey 1200 (Kinsey Pavilion)

Kinsey 1200

Kinsey Pavilion

Speaker

Yuanfang Wu (Central China Normal University)

Description

We develop the eigen-microstate framework as a new method to identify criticality in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. By reformulating event ensembles within the Gibbs-ensemble language, the dominant critical modes can be systematically extracted and revealed. Analyses of model simulations with and without critical behavior demonstrate that the leading eigenvalue serves as a robust order parameter, while its eigen-microstate displays a distinctive critical pattern. The approach avoids equilibrium assumptions and is insensitive to non-critical background, and it is directly applicable to RHIC Beam Energy Scan data, offering a powerful tool for probing non-equilibrium phase transitions in QCD matter.

Author

Yuanfang Wu (Central China Normal University)

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