Theoretical Overview on (Hidden) Charm in High-Energy Heavy-Ion Collisions

Abstract

Recent developments in the theoretical evaluation of charmonium production in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions (URHIC's) are discussed. In particular, the consequences of equilibrium properties of open and hidden charm states -- accessible, {\it e.g.}, in QCD lattice gauge calculations -- are assessed. These include abundances as well as formation and dissociation rates of charmonia in both hadronic and quark-gluon matter.

Invited Talk at 7. Int. Conf. on Strangeness in Quark Matter (Atlantic Beach, NC, USA, 12.-17.03.03); 10 pages LaTeX including 11 Figures and iop style files; v3: Section 3.4 (Continuity) revised