The Role of Thermal Photons in a Magnetized Plasma and Their Significance in Heavy-ion Collisions

In this contribution, we present thermal photon production mechanisms within a magnetized quark–gluon plasma, utilizing the framework of Landau-level quantization. We examine the specific influences of the magnetic field, chemical potential, and chiral chemical potential on photon yield and polarization. By providing a more comprehensive theoretical description of photon production across the full evolution of heavy-ion collisions, our study offers a promising new avenue for resolving the “photon \(v_2\) puzzle” and potentially detecting the signature of magnetic fields in heavy-ion collision experiments. Abstract Published by the Jagiellonian University 2026 authors