The QCD phase diagram is widely believed to feature a first‑order phase transition line terminating at a critical point, expected to lie in the universality class of the 3D Ising model. A broad region of this diagram has been probed experimentally through heavy‑ion collisions at varying beam energies, with future facilities and anticipated observations of neutron star mergers poised to extend this coverage. A central goal of the field is to map the phase diagram by identifying robust signatures of its key features within phenomenological models.
In this talk, I will discuss recent progress in modeling these systems, including new frameworks to simulate critical fluctuations and spinodal decomposition. I will also discuss advances in hydrodynamic modeling that can deal with stability issues in modeling both the ion collisions and the neutron star mergers and integrate these theoretical ingredients into end‑to‑end simulations. I will conclude by outlining my research priorities for the next few years aimed at leveraging the existing and future data to map the QCD phase diagram.
