The equation of state (EoS) of dense matter and the phase structure of nuclear matter, governed by strong interactions at high baryon density (which cannot be effectively studied through nuclear structure or perturbative QCD!), represent one of the most significant research topics in contemporary nuclear physics. These determine the transition from invisible to visible matter after the Big Bang and the properties of compact celestial objects in the universe. Long-term plans for large-scale scientific facilities in the United States, Europe, Russia, China, and other regions explicitly state the study of dense nuclear matter properties and hadron-quark phase transitions as one of their primary research objectives.

My research primarily focuses on theoretical investigations related to probing high-density nuclear matter properties. Using heavy-ion collision transport models combined with experimental data, I aim to determine the phase transition boundary of high-baryon-density nuclear matter and constrain the EoS of dense nuclear matter. This work contributes to understanding both early- and late-stage cosmic evolution and deepens our knowledge of non-perturbative QCD strong interactions.

**Primary Research Focus: Theoretical studies of intermediate-energy heavy-ion collisions** 

Over 16 years of independent research, I have conducted systematic and innovative work in the following areas: 

1. Developed isospin-dependent transport theory models 

2. Probed and constrained the EoS of dense nuclear matter 

3. Investigated nucleon-nucleon short-range correlations, particle production, and hadron-quark phase transitions 

4. Probed hyperon potentials 

**Key Contributions:** 

- Constrained effective nucleon momentum in atomic nuclei 

- Proposed the concept of **momentum gap** in asymmetric nuclear matter 

- Developed transport models incorporating isospin effects and short-range correlations 

- Introduced the concept of **isospin blockade** 

- Proposed qualitative methods to probe high-density symmetry energy  

- Identified experimental blind spots in high-density symmetry energy detection 

- Pioneered novel probes for high-density symmetry energy using: 

  • Squeezed-out nucleon emission 

  • Photon production 

  • Mesons with hidden strange quarks / doubly-strange hyperons 

- Discovered neutron star-like matter production in intermediate-energy heavy-ion collisions under ultra-strong  magnetic fields 

- Proposed a **new triple-collision mechanism** for studying superheavy element synthesis and dense nuclear matter properties 

- Demonstrated the breakdown of constituent quark scaling of hadronic elliptic flow at low energies 

- Developed **new approaches** to probe QCD matter phase transitions 

- Provided **pioneering constraints** on the phase transition boundary 

- Conducted **groundbreaking studies** on hyperon/hypernucleus-nucleus reactions to resolve the "hyperon  puzzle" in neutron stars 

- Proposed **direct probes** for hyperon potentials  

2008.07-Ph.D., Nuclear Physics, Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

2006.10-2012.10-Research Assistant, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

2012.11-2017.10-Associate Professor, PhD supervisor, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

2017.11-2022.10-Researcher 4, PhD supervisor, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

2022.11-Researcher 3, PhD supervisor, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Some of the papers:

(22). Violation of NCQ scaling in hadron elliptic flow in Au+Au collisions at SQRT(s)=3-7.7 GeV

Physics Letters B 868 (2025) 139752

Xun Zhu, and Gao-Chan Yong*

(21). Probing Lambda potential via its v2 flow in hypernuclei-induced reaction

Physics Letters B 866 (2025) 139549

Gao-Chan Yong

(20). Exploring hadron-quark phase transition in heavy-ion collisions using particle emission ratios in heavy and light reaction systems

Physics Letters B 865 (2025) 139454

Xun Zhu, and Gao-Chan Yong*

(19). A direct probe of Λ potential in nuclear medium

Physics Letters B 853 (2024) 138662

Gao-Chan Yong

(18). Phase diagram determination at fivefold nuclear compression

Physics Letters B 848 (2024) 138327

Gao-Chan Yong

(17). Strangeness production in neutron stars

Phys. Rev. D - Letter 108, L091507 (2023)

Gao-Chan Yong

(16). A method for probing the formation of quark matter

Physics Letters B 843 (2023) 138051

Gao-Chan Yong

(15). Isospin blocking and its effects in heavy-ion collisions

Phys. Rev. C - Letter 106, L021601 (2022)

Ya-Fei Guo, and Gao-Chan Yong*

(14). Nucleon momentum gap in asymmetric nuclear matter

Phys. Rev. C - Letter 105, L011601 (2022)

Gao-Chan Yong

 (13). Formation of large chunk of nuclear matter in heavy-ion collisions

Physics Letters B 832 (2022) 137260

Gao-Chan Yong

 (12). Double strangeness Cascade^- production as a probe of nuclear equation of state at high densities

Physics Letters B 820 (2021) 136521

Gao-Chan Yong*, Zhi-Gang Xiao, Yuan Gao, Zi-Wei Lin

 (11). Probing the boundary of phase transition of nuclear matter using proton flows in heavy-ion collisions at 2-8 GeV/nucleon

Physics Letters B 815 (2021) 136138

Ya-Fei Guo, Gao-Chan Yong*

(10). Probing nuclear bubble configuration by proton induced reaction

Phy. Rev. C - Rapid Communication 99 (R), 041601 (2019)

Xiao-Hua Fan, Gao-Chan Yong*,Wei Zuo

(9). Probing proton transition momentum in neutron-rich matter

Physics Letters B 776 (2018) 447-450

Gao-Chan Yong

(8). Blind spots of probing the high-density symmetry energy in heavy-ion collisions

Physics Letters B 786 (2018) 422-425

Gao-Chan Yong 

 (7). Constraining nucleon high momentum in nuclei

Physics Letters B 765 (2017) 104-108

Gao-Chan Yong

 (6). Normal or abnormal isospin-fractionation as a qualitative probe of nuclear symmetry energy at supradensities

Physics Letters B 738 (2014) 397-400

Wenmei Guo, Gaochan Yong*, Yongjia Wang, Qingfeng Li, Hongfei Zhang, Wei Zuo

 (5). Effects of nuclear symmetry energy on η meson production and its rare decay to the dark U-boson in heavy-ion reactions

Physics Letters B 723 (2013) 388-392

Gao-Chan Yong*, Bao-An Li

 (4). A direct probe of the in-medium pn scattering cross section

Physics Letters B 705 (2011) 240-243

Gao-Chan Yong*, Wei Zuo, Xun-Chao Zhang

 (3). Nuclear collision in strong magnetic field

Physics Letters B 700 (2011) 249-253

Gao-Chan Yong

 (2). Neutron–proton bremsstrahlung from intermediate energy heavy-ion reactions as a probe of the nuclear symmetry energy?

Physics Letters B 661 (2008) 82-87

Gao-Chan Yong, Bao-An Li*, Lie-Wen Chen

(1). The neutron/proton ratio of squeezed-out nucleons and the high density behavior of the nuclear symmetry energy

Physics Letters B 650 (2007) 344-347

Gao-Chan Yong, Bao-An Li*, Lie-Wen Chen

See: https://arxiv.org/search/?query=Gao-Chan+Yong&searchtype=author&source=header