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The thermodynamics of strongly interacting matter has become a profound and challenging area of modern physics, both in theory and in experiment. Statistical quantum chromodynamics, through analytical as well as numerical studies, provides the main theoretical tool, while in experiment, high-energy nuclear collisions are the key for extensive laboratory investigations. The field therefore straddles statistical, particle and nuclear physics, both conceptually and in the methods of investigation used.  This course-tested primer addresses above all the many young scientists starting their scientific research in this field, providing them with a general, self-contained introduction that emphasizes in particular the basic concepts and ideas, with the aim of explaining why we do what we do.  To achieve this goal, the present text concentrates mainly on equilibrium thermodynamics: first, the fundamental ideas of strong interaction thermodynamics are introduced and then the main concepts and methods used in the study of the physics of complex systems are summarized. Subsequently, simplified phenomenological pictures, leading to critical behavior in hadronic matter and to hadron-quark phase transitions are introduced, followed by elements of finite-temperature lattice QCD leading to the important results obtained in computer simulation studies of the lattice approach. Next, the relation of the resulting critical behavior to symmetry breaking/restoration in QCD is clarified before the text turns to the study of the QCD phase diagram. The presentation of bulk equilibrium thermodynamics is completed by studying the properties of the quark-gluon plasma as new state of strongly interacting matter.The final chapters of the book are devoted to more specific topics which arise when nuclear collisions are considered as a tool for the experimental study of QCD thermodynamics.

Thermodynamic equilibrium --- Quantum chromodynamics --- Strong interactions (Nuclear physics) --- Physics --- Physical Sciences & Mathematics --- Thermodynamics --- Electricity & Magnetism --- Nuclear Physics --- Thermodynamic equilibrium. --- Quantum chromodynamics. --- Chromodynamics, Quantum --- QCD (Nuclear physics) --- Equilibrium, Thermal --- Equilibrium, Thermodynamic --- Equilibrium thermodynamics --- Thermal equilibrium --- Physics. --- System theory. --- Astrophysics. --- Nuclear physics. --- Heavy ions. --- Hadrons. --- Elementary particles (Physics). --- Quantum field theory. --- Nuclear Physics, Heavy Ions, Hadrons. --- Elementary Particles, Quantum Field Theory. --- Complex Systems. --- Astrophysics and Astroparticles. --- Statistical Physics and Dynamical Systems. --- Nuclear reactions --- Particles (Nuclear physics) --- Quantum electrodynamics --- Chemical equilibrium --- Quantum theory. --- Statistical physics. --- Mathematical statistics --- Quantum dynamics --- Quantum mechanics --- Quantum physics --- Mechanics --- Atomic nuclei --- Atoms, Nuclei of --- Nucleus of the atom --- Statistical methods --- Dynamical systems. --- Astronomical physics --- Astronomy --- Cosmic physics --- Dynamical systems --- Kinetics --- Mathematics --- Mechanics, Analytic --- Force and energy --- Statics --- Relativistic quantum field theory --- Field theory (Physics) --- Quantum theory --- Relativity (Physics) --- Elementary particles (Physics) --- High energy physics --- Nuclear particles --- Nucleons --- Nuclear physics --- Ions

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The aim of this book is to offer to the next generation of young researchers a broad and largely self-contained introduction to the physics of heavy ion collisions and the quark-gluon plasma, providing material beyond that normally found in the available textbooks. For each of the main aspects - QCD thermodynamics and global features of the QGP, collision hydrodynamics, electromagnetic probes, jet and quarkonium production, color glass condensate, and the gravity connection - the present volume provides extensive and pedagogical lectures, surveying the present status of both theory and experiment. A particular feature of this volume is that all lectures have been written with the active assistance of selected students present at the course in order to ensure the adequate level and coverage for the intended readership.

Quark-gluon plasma --- Physics --- Physical Sciences & Mathematics --- Electricity & Magnetism --- Nuclear Physics --- Quark-gluon plasma. --- Physics. --- Natural philosophy --- Philosophy, Natural --- Gluon-quark plasma --- Matter, Quark --- Plasma, Quark --- Quark matter --- Quark plasma --- Quantum field theory. --- String theory. --- Nuclear physics. --- Heavy ions. --- Hadrons. --- Elementary particles (Physics). --- Nuclear Physics, Heavy Ions, Hadrons. --- Elementary Particles, Quantum Field Theory. --- Quantum Field Theories, String Theory. --- Physical sciences --- Dynamics --- Nuclear matter