Spin and polarization: a new direction in relativistic heavy ion physics

Understand

Since the first evidence of a global polarization of $\Lambda$ hyperons in relativistic nuclear collisions in 2017, spin has opened a new window in the field, both at experimental and theoretical level, and an exciting perspective.

• The current state of the field is reviewed with regard to the theoretical understanding of the data, reporting on the most recent achievements and envisioning possible developments.
• The intriguing connections of spin physics in relativistic matter with fundamental questions in quantum field theory and applications in the non-relativistic domain are discussed.