https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02265-3
Review
The phases of QCD reached in terrestrial and cosmic colliders
International Center for Theoretical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Survey 151 Shivakote, Hesarghatta Hobli, 560089, Bengaluru, India
a
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Received:
26
November
2025
Accepted:
4
March
2026
Published online:
30
March
2026
Abstract
We review the current state of knowledge of the phase diagram of QCD through lattice, effective field theories, and chiral models. Several sections through the three-dimensional phase diagram are known for 
with good precision. Due to technical advances in lattice techniques over the last decade or so, new aspects of the phase diagram can now be explored. We review current lattice results. The newly acquired knowledge can be used to reconstruct the full phase diagram for physical QCD, i. e., 
. We remark on the computations which would help understand this better, and what the current constraints are on matter in neutron star cores. We also remark on the physics of the chiral transition and neutron stars in the ’t Hooft large 
limit.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2026
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
