2009/12/18 by Clément Gombeaud, Jean-Yves Ollitrault · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Azimuth #Centrality #Distribution (mathematics) #Eccentricity (behavior) #Elliptic flow #Glauber #Harmonic #Heavy ion #High-Energy Particle Collisions Research #Ion #Monte Carlo method #Nuclear physics #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #Physics #Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions #Quantum mechanics #Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider #Scattering #Statistical physics #nucl-th
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/0954-3899/37/9/094024
published in Journal of Physics G Nuclear and Particle Physics 37(9), 094024 (IOP Publishing) · talk presented at the Strangeness in Quark Matter Conference, Buzios, Brazil, Sept. 27 - oct. 2, 2009
arxiv created 2009/12/18 · openalex publication_date 2010/08/02 · arxiv updated 2014/11/20 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Abstract\nThe fourth harmonic of the azimuthal distribution of particles v 4 has been measured for Au-Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The centrality dependence of v 4 does not agree with the prediction from hydrodynamics. In particular, the ratio v 4 /(v 2) 2, where v 2 denotes the second harmonic of the azimuthal distribution of particles, is significantly larger than predicted by hydrodynamics. We argue that this discrepancy is mostly due to elliptic flow (v 2) fluctuations. We evaluate these fluctuations on the basis of a Monte Carlo Glauber calculation. The effect of deviations from local thermal equilibrium is also studied, but appears to be only a small correction. Combining these two effects allows us to reproduce experimental data for peripheral and midcentral collisions. However, we are unable to explain the large magnitude of v 4 /(v 2) 2 observed for the most central collisions. Are eccentricity fluctuations able to explain the centrality dependence of v 4 ? 2