Malena Tejeda Yeomans

In this colloquium, I will explore how photons serve as probes for studying systems with lifetimes so brief and conditions so extreme—whether too hot or too cold—that traditional thermometers are ineffective. I will discuss how detecting these photons and analyzing their production relies on innovative physical models and analytical techniques drawn from diverse areas of physics. I will highlight how the earliest paramount photons generated in heavy-ion collisions reign supreme, as powerful probes offering unique insights into these fleeting, extreme systems. Finally, I will tell you about some current topics and open questions in the field, focusing on the one I am working on: the direct photon puzzle.