Two-stage equilibration in high energy heavy ion collisions

Using the (lowest-order) perturbative QCD, we argue that high energy heavy-ion collisions proceed via two stages: equilibration of gluons takes time τg{~}1/2 fm/c, while production and equilibration of quarks needs time at least τq{~}2 fm/c. If so, the initial gluon plasma is much hotter than usually estimated, Tg{~}400 MeV, which leads to enhanced charm production and significant modifications of other proposed signals.