Speaker
Description
Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the fundamental theory of the strong interaction, governs the behavior of quarks and gluons. Heavy quarks (charm and bottom) hold unique value in strong interaction research: their large masses ensure production is dominantly governed by perturbative QCD, while the formation mechanisms of heavy quarkonium states (e.g., J/ψ) inherently span QCD's perturbative and non-perturbative regimes, providing a unique window into their interplay. This presentation reports the latest heavy quarkonium results from the RHIC-STAR Collaboration, focusing on production characteristics in proton-proton collisions. Through measurements of the J/ψ-energy correlator, we probe the micro-dynamical mechanisms governing quarkonium formation within the non-perturbative QCD regime. Furthermore, we discuss implications for J/ψ spin physics in heavy-ion collisions and their potential role in studying quark-gluon plasma (QGP) properties.
