We present a novel numerical scheme to solve the QCD Boltzmann equation in the soft scattering approximation, for the quenched limit of QCD. Using this we can readily investigate the evolution of spatially homogeneous systems of gluons distributed isotropically in momentum space. We numerically confirm that for so-called “overpopulated” initial conditions, a (transient) Bose-Einstein condensate could emerge in a finite time. Going beyond existing results, we analyze the formation dynamics of this condensate. The scheme is extended to systems with cylindrically symmetric momentum distributions, in order to investigate the effects of anisotropy. In particular, we compare the rates at which isotropization and equilibration occur. We also compare our results from the soft scattering scheme to the relaxation time approximation.

We put forward the idea that the quark-gluon plasma might exist way below the usual confinement temperature T_c. Our argument rests on the possibility that the plasma produced in heavy-ion collisions could reach a transient quasi-equilibrium with 'over-occupied' gluon density, as advocated by Blaizot et al. Taking further into account that gluons acquire an effective mass by interaction effects, they can have a positive chemical potential and therefore behave similarly to non-relativistic bosons. Relevant properties of this dense state of interacting gluons, which we dub serried glue, can then be inferred on rather general grounds from Maxwell's relation.

We argue that the inferred ratio of shear viscosity to entropy density of the quark-gluon plasma, h/s < 0.5 near the deconfinement temperature Tc, can be understood from perturbative QCD. To rebut opposite views, we first show that the existing leading order result should not be expanded in logarithms. After then settling the question of scale for the running coupling, we establish a temperature dependence of h/s which agrees well with constraints from hydrodynamics.

I argue that the strong quenching and the sizable anisotropy of heavy quark flavors observed in heavy-ion collisions has a substantial component from binary scattering processes in the quark-gluon plasma. To arrive at this conclusion, I illustrate essential requirements for a more accurate theoretical description by considering first the average collisional energy loss of heavy quarks in a thermal background. On this basis, I describe a consistent transport approach, formulating the in-medium evolution of heavy quarks as a stochastic Markov process, which has been implemented for applications in heavy-ion phenomenology.

We put forward the idea that the quark-gluon plasma might exist way below the usual confinement temperature $T_c$. Our argument rests on the possibility that the plasma produced in heavy-ion collisions could reach a transient quasi-equilibrium with `over-occupied' gluon density, as advocated by Blaizot et al. Taking further into account that gluons acquire an effective mass by interaction effects, they can have a positive chemical potential and therefore behave similarly to non-relativistic bosons. Relevant properties of this dense state of interacting gluons, which we dub serried glue, can then be inferred on rather general grounds from Maxwell's relation.

Being interested in how a strongly coupled system approaches asymptotic freedom, we re-examine existing precision lattice QCD results for thermodynamic properties of the gluon plasma in a large temperature range. We discuss and thoroughly test the applicability of perturbative results, on which grounds we then infer that the pressure and other bulk properties approach the free limit somewhat slower than previously thought. We also revise the value of the first non-perturbative coefficient in the weak-coupling expansion.