Non-equilibrium phase transitions and critical dynamics of QCD matter (B10*)

• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 315477589

This project will determine the universal real-time dynamics in the vicinity of the conjectured Z2 Model H QCD critical point and the O(4) Model G chiral phase transition. Based on direct numerical simulations and real-time functional renormalization group studies of low-energy effective theories, we will calculate dynamic critical exponents, as well as universal dynamic and non-equilibrium scaling functions that describe real-time QCD correlation functions in the vicinity of these transitions. We will further quantify the size of the dynamic scaling region and also explore signatures of the non-equilibrium phase-transitions relevant to heavy-ion collisions.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 211: Strong-Interaction Matter under Extreme Conditions
• Applicant Institution: Universität Bielefeld
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Sören Schlichting, since 1/2026; Professor Dr. Lorenz von Smekal, since 1/2026