CERN Accelerating science

Recent measurements performed in high-multiplicity proton-proton (pp) and proton-lead (p-Pb) collisions have unveiled surprising features that are reminiscent of lead-lead (Pb-Pb) phenomenology. In Pb-Pb, the mechanisms that give rise to such features have been traditionally associated to the formation of a Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP), so that these findings raise a crucial question: could it be that a QGP is formed already in small systems?

In this presentation, I will report on the main results on identified particle production in high-multiplicity pp and p-Pb collisions and explore topics such as identified particle production and collective behaviour in these small systems. These results will be systematically compared to measurements from xenon-xenon (Xe-Xe) and Pb-Pb collisions as well as to predictions from Monte Carlo event generators that include the latest developments in pQCD-inspired phenomenology. Finally, I will summarize the remaining open questions and discussing how these will be addressed by future measurements