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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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This book is a course-tested primer on the thermodynamics of strongly interacting matter – a profound and challenging area of both theoretical and experimental modern physics. Analytical and numerical studies of statistical quantum chromodynamics provide the main theoretical tool, while in experiments, high-energy nuclear collisions are the key for extensive laboratory investigations. As such, the field straddles statistical, particle and nuclear physics, both conceptually and in the methods of investigation used. The book addresses, above all, the many young scientists starting their scientific research in this field, providing them with a general, self-contained introduction that highlights the basic concepts and ideas and explains why we do what we do. Much of the book focuses on equilibrium thermodynamics: first it presents simplified phenomenological pictures, leading to critical behavior in hadronic matter and to a quark-hadron phase transition. This is followed by elements of finite temperature lattice QCD and an exposition of the important results obtained through the computer simulation of the lattice formulation. It goes on to clarify the relationship between the resulting critical behavior due to symmetry breaking/restoration in QCD, before turning to the QCD phase diagram. The presentation of bulk equilibrium thermodyamics is completed by studying the properties of the quark-gluon plasma as a new state of strongly interacting matter. The final chapters of the book are devoted to more specific topics that arise when nuclear collisions are considered as a tool for the experimental study of QCD thermodynamics. This second edition includes a new chapter on the hydrodynamic evolution of the medium produced in nuclear collisions. Since the study of flow for strongly interacting fluids has gained ever-increasing importance over the years, it is dealt with it in some detail, including comments on gauge/gravity duality. Moreover, other aspects of experimental studies are brought up to date, such as the search for critical behavior in multihadron production, the calibration of quarkonium production in nuclear collisions, and the relation between strangeness suppression and deconfinement.

Physics. --- System theory. --- Astrophysics. --- Nuclear physics. --- Heavy ions. --- Hadrons. --- Elementary particles (Physics). --- Quantum field theory. --- Phase transformations (Statistical physics). --- Condensed materials. --- Condensed matter. --- Nuclear Physics, Heavy Ions, Hadrons. --- Elementary Particles, Quantum Field Theory. --- Complex Systems. --- Astrophysics and Astroparticles. --- Quantum Gases and Condensates. --- Statistical Physics and Dynamical Systems. --- Condensed materials --- Condensed media --- Condensed phase --- Materials, Condensed --- Media, Condensed --- Phase, Condensed --- Liquids --- Matter --- Solids --- Phase changes (Statistical physics) --- Phase transitions (Statistical physics) --- Phase rule and equilibrium --- Statistical physics --- Relativistic quantum field theory --- Field theory (Physics) --- Quantum theory --- Relativity (Physics) --- Elementary particles (Physics) --- High energy physics --- Nuclear particles --- Nucleons --- Nuclear physics --- Strongly interacting particles --- Particles (Nuclear physics) --- Partons --- Ions --- Atomic nuclei --- Atoms, Nuclei of --- Nucleus of the atom --- Physics --- Astronomical physics --- Astronomy --- Cosmic physics --- Systems, Theory of --- Systems science --- Science --- Natural philosophy --- Philosophy, Natural --- Physical sciences --- Dynamics --- Philosophy --- Quantum theory. --- Statistical physics. --- Mathematical statistics --- Quantum dynamics --- Quantum mechanics --- Quantum physics --- Mechanics --- Thermodynamics --- Statistical methods --- Thermodynamic equilibrium. --- Equilibrium, Thermal --- Equilibrium, Thermodynamic --- Equilibrium thermodynamics --- Thermal equilibrium --- Chemical equilibrium --- Dynamical systems. --- Dynamical systems --- Kinetics --- Mathematics --- Mechanics, Analytic --- Force and energy --- Statics

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What is the origin of the universe? What was there before the universe appeared? We are presently witnessing a second Copernican revolution: neither our Earth and Sun nor our galaxy nor even our universe is the end of all things. This account of recent developments in modern cosmology introduces how the Big Bang took place and what preceded it

Big bang theory --- Expanding universe

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In the last hundred years, modern physics and cosmology have shown that there exist regions of the universe forever beyond our reach, hidden by truly ultimate horizons. Such regions exist in those remote parts of the universe where, from our point of view, space expands faster than the speed of light. They are found in black holes, where the gravity is strong enough to retain even light within its field of attraction. And in the realm of the very small, quarks must remain forever confined to their world of extreme density and can never be removed from it. The aim of this book is to describe these ultimate horizons, how they were discovered, how they shape our view of the world, and what clues we have about a world beyond them.

Theory of knowledge --- Philosophy of science --- Space research --- Cosmology --- Elementary particles --- Physics --- elementaire deeltjes --- astrofysica --- kwantumleer --- wetenschapsfilosofie --- kennisleer --- fysica --- ruimte (astronomie) --- kosmologie

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