QCD Phase Boundary and the Hadrochemical Horizon

Abstract

I review the physics of the phase boundary between hadronic matter and quark matter from several different points of view. These include thermodynamics, statistical physics, and chemical kinetics. In particular, the review focuses on the role of the chemical freeze-out line and its relation to the concept of valence-quark percolation. The review ends with some recollections of Jean Cleymans.

Keywords

• quark-gluon plasma
• QCD phase transition
• chemical freeze-out