Abstract
In 2010, the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) launched a multi-step experimental program to investigate the phase diagram of strongly interacting nuclear matter. The exploratory phase I of the Beam Energy Scan (BES) program was completed in 2011 with data sets ranging from 39 GeV down to 7.7 GeV. This, together with larger data sets at 62, 130 and 200 GeV, allowed for an initial look into the uncharted territory of QCD phase diagram. This diagram is considered to be the single most important graph of our field. All measurements taken by the STAR (Solenoidal Tracker At RHIC) detector at 
below the RHIC injection energy are affected by large statistical errors, steeply increasing with decreased energy. Nevertheless, they allowed for the first time a direct study of the anticipated critical point and phase transition signatures. The plans and the preparation for phase II of the BES program, with one order of magnitude larger statistics, are discussed.
Export citation and abstract BibTeX RIS
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.