📝 SummarXiv

Abstract

Heavy-ion collision experiments offer a unique opportunity to explore the early stages of the Universe by creating matter under extreme conditions of high temperature and baryon density. The properties of such matter are governed by the equation-of-state (EoS), which remains a central focus of investigation from both experimental and theoretical perspectives. Flow harmonics are among the most sensitive observables for probing the EoS, as they strongly reflect the underlying interactions and degrees of freedom of the system. In this article, we review the current status of our understanding of the EoS based on microscopic transport models, emphasizing comparisons with experimental data in the few GeV energy range.