When fluid flows almost as fast as light—with quantum rotation

Quark-gluon plasma is formed as a result of high-energy collisions of heavy ions. After a collision, for a dozen or so yoctoseconds (10-24 seconds), this most perfect of all known fluids undergoes rapid hydrodynamic expansion with velocities close to the velocity of light. An international team of scientists, associated with the IFJ PAN and the GSI Centre, has presented a new model describing these extreme flows. For the first time, effects resulting from the particles’ quantum rotation are taken into account.