Bridging QGP and hadronic matter through strange resonances, baryon correlations and heavy flavour
ProjectUnderstanding the transition from the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) to hadronic matter is one of the major open challenges in high-energy nuclear physics. In
particular, the experimental characterization of chiral symmetry restoration (CSR), resonance formation, and hadronization mechanisms near the QCD
crossover remains incomplete. The BRIDGE project addresses these questions through a coordinated investigation of strange resonances, parity-sensitive
observables, baryon correlations, and heavy-flavour hadronization in proton–proton and heavy-ion collisions at the LHC.
BRIDGE will exploit the large Run 3 ALICE datasets together with advanced analysis techniques to study complementary probes of the QCD medium
evolution. The project will investigate axial-vector strange mesons such as the K1(1270) and K1(1400), whose production relative to the K* resonance is
expected to be sensitive to CSR. In parallel, the project will perform dedicated studies of the recently observed Ω(2012), a promising candidate negative-
parity excitation of the Ω(1672), to constrain its spin-parity assignment and investigate its possible interpretation as a strange-baryon parity partner. The
Λ(1520) resonance will provide a benchmark probe of the late hadronic evolution of the medium, allowing BRIDGE to study the interplay between resonance
suppression, regeneration, and kinetic freeze-out. An innovative component of the project will be the development of a femtoscopy-constrained treatment of
the non-combinatorial background in the pK- invariant-mass spectrum, establishing a novel connection between resonance spectroscopy and two-particle
correlation measurements.
A central objective of BRIDGE is the investigation of hadronization, namely the process through which deconfined quarks and gluons form hadrons. Current
evidence suggests that hadron formation in heavy-ion collisions may proceed through the interplay of string fragmentation and quark recombination
(coalescence), but their relative contribution remains poorly constrained. This uncertainty limits the interpretation of heavy-flavour observables and the
extraction of QGP transport properties. To address this problem, BRIDGE will perform a novel study of heavy-flavour hadronization through angular
correlations between charm hadrons (D0, D+,Ds+, Λc+, Ξc0,+) and identified light hadrons (π, K, p, Λ). These observables provide direct sensitivity to
flavour compensation and baryon-number conservation during hadron formation, allowing the project to discriminate between fragmentation-driven and
coalescence-driven formation.
By combining strange resonances, parity partners, hadronic-phase probes, and heavy-flavour observables, BRIDGE will provide one of the first coordinated
investigations of CSR and hadronization dynamics across different sectors of the QCD medium. BRIDGE will deliver a coherent experimental picture of the
QCD crossover and of the evolution of strongly interacting matter from the QGP to stable hadrons.
particular, the experimental characterization of chiral symmetry restoration (CSR), resonance formation, and hadronization mechanisms near the QCD
crossover remains incomplete. The BRIDGE project addresses these questions through a coordinated investigation of strange resonances, parity-sensitive
observables, baryon correlations, and heavy-flavour hadronization in proton–proton and heavy-ion collisions at the LHC.
BRIDGE will exploit the large Run 3 ALICE datasets together with advanced analysis techniques to study complementary probes of the QCD medium
evolution. The project will investigate axial-vector strange mesons such as the K1(1270) and K1(1400), whose production relative to the K* resonance is
expected to be sensitive to CSR. In parallel, the project will perform dedicated studies of the recently observed Ω(2012), a promising candidate negative-
parity excitation of the Ω(1672), to constrain its spin-parity assignment and investigate its possible interpretation as a strange-baryon parity partner. The
Λ(1520) resonance will provide a benchmark probe of the late hadronic evolution of the medium, allowing BRIDGE to study the interplay between resonance
suppression, regeneration, and kinetic freeze-out. An innovative component of the project will be the development of a femtoscopy-constrained treatment of
the non-combinatorial background in the pK- invariant-mass spectrum, establishing a novel connection between resonance spectroscopy and two-particle
correlation measurements.
A central objective of BRIDGE is the investigation of hadronization, namely the process through which deconfined quarks and gluons form hadrons. Current
evidence suggests that hadron formation in heavy-ion collisions may proceed through the interplay of string fragmentation and quark recombination
(coalescence), but their relative contribution remains poorly constrained. This uncertainty limits the interpretation of heavy-flavour observables and the
extraction of QGP transport properties. To address this problem, BRIDGE will perform a novel study of heavy-flavour hadronization through angular
correlations between charm hadrons (D0, D+,Ds+, Λc+, Ξc0,+) and identified light hadrons (π, K, p, Λ). These observables provide direct sensitivity to
flavour compensation and baryon-number conservation during hadron formation, allowing the project to discriminate between fragmentation-driven and
coalescence-driven formation.
By combining strange resonances, parity partners, hadronic-phase probes, and heavy-flavour observables, BRIDGE will provide one of the first coordinated
investigations of CSR and hadronization dynamics across different sectors of the QCD medium. BRIDGE will deliver a coherent experimental picture of the
QCD crossover and of the evolution of strongly interacting matter from the QGP to stable hadrons.