What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to determine the pre-inflationary bounce temperature using heavy-ion physics.

March 28, 2026Open Access

CCEGA Paper 24: The QCD Scale as a Cosmological Observable — The Pre-Inflationary Bounce Temperature from Heavy-Ion Physics

Key Points

This research aims to determine the pre-inflationary bounce temperature using heavy-ion physics.
Calculated bounce temperature using CCEGA framework
Compared predictions with measured QCD values
Identified and analyzed discrepancies with traditional bounce models
Predicted T_bounce values of 152.9 MeV and 156.5 MeV aligning with measured T_QCD
Agreement at the 2.3% level for specific conditions
Demonstrated that CCEGA is testable through ongoing heavy-ion experiments

Abstract

CCEGA predicts the pre-inflationary bounce temperature as Tbounce = (120B/π²gₑff) ^1/4 = 152. 9 MeV (B^1/4=215 MeV) or 156. 5 MeV (B^1/4=220 MeV). The measured value is TQCD = 156. 5 ± 1. 5 MeV (HotQCD). Agreement at the 2. 3% level — exact for B^1/4=220 MeV. No other bounce model predicts Tbounce in the MeV range: LQC, string cosmology, and ekpyrosis all predict T~10¹9 GeV. CCEGA is the first bounce framework testable by current heavy-ion experiments. ALICE Run 3 (ongoing) and ALICE 3 (2030s) will provide definitive tests simultaneously with the Einstein Telescope search for GW echoes. Keywords: cosmological bounce, QCD, chiral transition, ALICE, heavy-ion, TQCD, bag model, CCEGA, pre-inflationary bounce, falsifiable

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