Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal: Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics

Volume number: 128

ISSN: 0146-6410

eISSN: 1873-2224

Open access status: Green

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppnp.2022.104004

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 
We review the current state of research on electromagnetic probes in the context of heavy-ion collisions. The focus is on thermal photons and dileptons which provide unique insights into the properties of the created hot and dense matter. This review is intended to provide an introductory overview of the topic as well as a discussion of recent theoretical and experimental results. In particular, we discuss the role of vectormeson spectral functions in the calculation of photon and dilepton rates and present recent results obtained from different frameworks. Furthermore, we will highlight the special role of photons and dileptons to provide information on observables such as the temperature, the lifetime, the polarization and the electrical conductivity of the produced medium as well as their use to learn about chiral symmetry restoration and phase transitions.

Harvard Citation style: Geurts, F. and Tripolt, R. (2023) Electromagnetic probes: Theory and experiment, Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics, 128, Article 104004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppnp.2022.104004

APA Citation style: Geurts, F., & Tripolt, R. (2023). Electromagnetic probes: Theory and experiment. Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics. 128, Article 104004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppnp.2022.104004