Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in understanding the behavior of nuclear matter under extreme conditions, such as those present shortly after the Big Bang. Heikki Mäntysaari, a researcher from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, has been at the forefront of this international research effort that aims to deepen insights into one of the fundamental forces of nature: the strong interaction between quarks and gluons.
The research group, including heavy collisions expert and notable collaborator ABB colleague Björn Schenke, has recently developed improved theoretical models of such heavy ion collisions. Their work culminated in a paper titled “Collision-Energy Dependence in Heavy-Ion Collisions from Nonlinear QCD Evolution,” published in Physical Review Letters. That research is now available on arXiv with DOI 10.48550/arxiv.2502.05138. Of course, it has garnered enormous interest in the academic world and was already cited by 9/29/25.
Advances in Modeling Heavy Ion Collisions
Heavy ion collisions recreate the violent conditions of the early universe. This opens up new possibilities for researchers to study the properties of nuclear matter under extreme conditions of energy density. Now, Mäntysaari and his team have created new, improved models that provide better predictions of quark-gluon plasma (QGP) with higher precision measurements. This rarefied form of matter is believed to have existed just after the Big Bang.
“This research helps reveal how nuclear matter behaves under extreme conditions, like those that existed just after the Big Bang,” stated Mäntysaari. “By making models of these collisions more accurate, we can better measure the properties of the QGP.”
The team’s work both improves theoretical models and fits remarkably next to experimental measurements. This longstanding connection is crucial for maximizing precision and accuracy of central equilibrium QGP property findings. As such, it represents an unusual and significant contribution to the field of particle physics.
The Role of International Collaboration
The research carried out under Mäntysaari’s leadership serves as an example of how the international scientific community can benefit from international collaboration. As experiments grow in complexity and scope, researchers need to develop a collective vision. This includes theoretical models and experimental measurements.
“International research collaboration is crucial, especially when combining experimental and theoretical knowledge,” said Mäntysaari. “This is the main motivation behind our Center of Excellence: it brings together theorists and experimentalists performing measurements at CERN. This common knowledge is essential to moving the field forward.
Partnerships drive novel approaches and perspectives. These breakthroughs have repeatedly stretched the limits of our understanding with respect to nuclear matter and its most basic interactions.
Future Prospects in Heavy Ion Research
Mäntysaari had an eye on the future, and enthusiasm for what lies ahead with heavy ion research. Brookhaven National Laboratory’s new Electron-Ion Collider will be starting its first science runs in the 2030s. This thrilling development will provide completely different but complementary measurements that will provide a qualitative leap on our current theoretical models.
He looks forward to the new Electron-Ion Collider expected to start-up at Brookhaven in the 2030s. This exciting new development will yield complementary measurements. New data could completely upend our current understanding of the strong force’s theories. This mysterious yet powerful force is a primary driver of the dynamic and complex nature of our universe.