From September 1 to 12, a two-week program on "Precision Frontier of QCD Matter: Inference & Uncertainty Quantification" was held at the Central China Center for Nuclear Theory (C3NT) in the Institute of Particle Physics (IOPP) at Central China Normal University (CCNU). The event attracted over 50 researchers in the field of nuclear physics from both domestic and international institutions, who gathered to explore cutting-edge methods for studying the properties of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) matter.

Professor Weiyao Ke chairing the opening session

Professor Xin-Nian Wang delivered the welcoming addresses and introduced IOPP and C3NT

The workshop focused on the "precision frontier", emphasizing on how Bayesian statistical  inference, uncertainty quantification and related machine learning techniques can help make progress in understanding QCD matter properties. During the event, researchers from around the world shared their studies on the application of Bayesian inference and machine learning in constraining the properties of quark-gluon plasma and extracting the equation of state for matter inside neutron stars. Through specialized reports and group/individual discussions, they also reached a consensus on future research directions.

Throughout the two-week program, faculty members and young researchers from worldwide, including Tsinghua University, CERN, RIKEN, Duke University, Vanderbilt University, the University of California, Berkeley, Heidelberg University, the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Warsaw University of Technology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Fudan University, and Central China Normal University, delivered 26 topical reports.  Professor Tetsuo Hatsuda from RIKEN gave a special lecture titled "From Quarks to Neutron Stars" on September 2nd at the first IOPP Colloquium, which was open to all faculty members and students. The lecture delved into the behavior and characteristics of strongly interacting matter at different scales, sparking lively discussions.

Professor Shuzhe Shi from Tsinghua University

Dr. Andreas Kirchner from Duke University (USA)

Professor Tetsuo Hatsuda from RIKEN (Japan)

Lively discussion after the talk

Graduate students attending the workshop

Dr. Yongjia Huang from Purple Mountain Observatory engaging in discussion at the IOPP Colloquium

Professor Wilke van der Schee from Utrecht University (Netherlands) delivering his talk

The organizint committee of the Workshop: Jean-Francois Paquet (Vanderbilt University), Raymond Ehlers (University of California, Berkeley), Kai Zhou (The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen), Matthew Luzum (University of São Paulo), Weiyao Ke (Central China Normal University), and Wilke van der Schee (CERN / Utrecht University).

As the host institution, the Institute of Particle Physics (IOPP) at Central China Normal University has long been committed to cutting-edge research on strong interactions and nuclear matter properties under extreme conditions. This program not only provided a platform for domestic and international researchers to exchange the latest methodological achievements, but also further highlighted the pivotal role of the Central China Center for Nuclear Theory (C3NT) in bridging theoretical innovation with experimental and observational progresses. In the future, this platform will strengthen cooperation among international scientists to contribute to unravel the mysteries of the Universe.

Conference Website: https://indico.ihep.ac.cn/event/25126

Group Photos of the Precision Frontier Workshop on QCD Matter during the first and second week

Group Photos of the Precision Frontier Workshop on QCD Matter during the first and second week

Correspondent: Shui, Xiangyu
Proofread: Ke, Weiyao