Elliptic flow in an integrated (3+1)d microscopic + macroscopic approach with fluctuating initial conditions

The elliptic flow excitation function calculated in a Boltzmann approach with an intermediate hydrodynamic stage for heavy-ion reactions from GSI-SIS to the highest CERN-SPS energies is discussed in the context of the experimental data. The specific setup with initial conditions and freeze-out from a non-equilibrium transport model allows for a direct comparison between ideal fluid dynamics and hadronic transport simulations. At higher SPS energies, where the pure transport calculation cannot account for the high elliptic flow values, the smaller mean free path in the hydrodynamic evolution leads to higher elliptic flow values. The lower mean free path leads to higher pressure gradients in the early stage and as a consequence to higher elliptic flow values even without a phase transition. Special emphasis is put on the influence of the initial conditions on the results of the hybrid model calculation. Event-by-event fluctuations are directly taken into account via event-wise non-equilibrium initial conditions generated by the primary collisions and string fragmentations in the microscopic UrQMD model. This leads to non-trivial velocity and energy density distributions for the hydrodynamical initial conditions. Due to the more realistic initial conditions and the incorporated hadronic rescattering the results are in line with the experimental data almost over the whole energy range from E _lab=2–160A GeV.     

Studying the energy dependence of elliptic and directed flow within a relativistic transport approach

The energy excitation functions of directed flow (v₁) and elliptic flow (v₂) from E_beam=90 A MeV to E_cm=200 A GeV are explored within the UrQMD framework and discussed in the context of the available data. The radial and the elliptic flow of the particles produced in a relativistic heavy-ion collision are intimately connected to the pressure and its gradients in the early stage of the reaction. Therefore, these observables should also be sensitive to changes in the equation of state. To prove this connection, the temporal evolution of the pressure, pressure gradients and elliptic flow are shown. For the flow excitation functions it is found that, in the energy regime below E_beam≤10 A GeV, the inclusion of nuclear potentials is necessary to describe the data. Above 40 A GeV beam energy, the UrQMD model starts to underestimate the elliptic flow. Around the same energy the slope of the rapidity spectra of the proton directed flow develops negative values. This effect is known as the third flow component (“antiflow”) and cannot be reproduced by the transport model. The difference between the data and the UrQMD model can possibly be explained by assuming a phase transition from hadron gas to quark–gluon plasma around E_lab=40 A GeV. This would be consistent with the model calculations, indicating a transition from hadronic matter to “string matter” in this energy range. Thus, we speculate that the missing pressure might be generated by strong interactions in the early pre-hadronic/partonic phase of central Au + Au (Pb + Pb) collisions already at lower SPS energies. PACS 25.75.-q; 25.75.Ld; 25.75.Dw; 25.75.Gz; 24.10.Lx     

Hydrodynamic radial and elliptic flow in heavy-ion collisions from AGS to LHC energies

Using ideal relativistic hydrodynamics in 2+1 dimensions, we study the collision-energy dependence of radial and elliptic flow, of the emitted hadron spectra, and of the transverse momentum dependence of several hadronic particle ratios, covering the range from Alternating Gradient Synchrotron (AGS) to Large Hadron Collider (LHC) energies. These calculations establish an ideal-fluid dynamic baseline that can be used to assess non-equilibrium features manifest in future LHC heavy-ion experiments. Contrary to earlier suggestions we find that a saturation and even decrease of the differential elliptic flow v ₂(p _T) with increasing collision energy cannot be unambiguously associated with the QCD phase transition.     

Exploring evolution of anisotropy with electromagnetic radiation

We have shown that elliptic flow (v ₂) of thermal electromagnetic radiation reflects anisotropy of the partonic phase at high values of transverse momentum as well as invariant mass, which is quite different in nature compared to the ideal hydrodynamics predicted v ₂ of hadrons. Spatial eccentricity scaled v ₂ values remain unchanged with change in impact parameter. Different temporal contours of spectra and v ₂ explain relative contributions from different phases to the overall v ₂, its nature and its gradual build-up very well.     

Elliptical flows in Reggeon theory

A new mechanism for the generation of an azimuthal anisotropy of particles produced in heavy-ion collisions is analyzed. An analysis is performed within Reggeon theory and is general. The resulting effect can be interpreted in terms of the partonic structure of a fast nucleus. This mechanismcan contribute significantly to the observed value of the elliptic flow υ ₂. The dynamics in question differs significantly from a standard mechanism of the collective motion of a hadron medium after a collision.

     

Parton rearrangement and fast thermalization in heavyion collisions at RHIC and LHC energies

The implications of parton rearrangement processes on the dynamics of ultra-relativistic heavyion collisions have been investigated. A microscopic transport approach, namely the quark gluon string model (QGSM) which has been extended for a locally density-dependent partonic rearrangement and fusion procedure served as the tool for this investigations. The model emulates effectively the dynamics of a strongly coupled quark plasma and final hadronic interactions. Main QGSM results on anisotropic flow components v ₁ and v ₂ at top RHIC energy are compiled. Predictions for the pseudorapidity dependence of directed and elliptic flow in Pb+Pb collisions under LHC conditions are presented.     

The 3rd flow component as a QGP signal

Earlier fluid dynamical calculations with QGP show a softening of the directed flow while with hadronic matter this effect is absent. On the other hand, we indicated that a third flow component shows up in the reaction plane as an enhanced emission, which is orthogonal to the directed flow. This is not shadowed by the deflected projectile and target, and shows up at measurable rapidities, y _CM=1?2. To study the formation of this effect initial stages of relativistic heavy ion collisions are studied. An effective string rope model is presented for heavy ion collisions at RHIC energies. Our model takes into account baryon recoil for both target and projectile, arising from the acceleration of partons in an effective field. The typical field strength (string tension) for RHIC energies is about 5–12 GeV/fm, what allows us to talk about “string ropes”. The results show that QGP forms a tilted disk, such that the direction of the largest pressure gradient stays in the reaction plane, but deviates from both the beam and the usual transverse flow directions. The produced initial state can be used as an initial condition for further hydrodynamical calculations. Such initial conditions lead to the creation of third flow component. Recent v ₁ measurements are promising that this effect can be used as a diagnostic tool of the QGP.     

On the elliptic flow for nearly symmetric collisions and nuclear equation of state

We present the results of elliptic flow for the collision of nearly symmetric nuclei (₁₀Ne²⁰+ ₁₃Al²⁷_{10}{\rm Ne}^{20}+\,_{13}{\rm Al}^{27}, ₁₈Ar⁴⁰+ ₂₁Sc⁴⁵_{18}{\rm Ar}^{40}+\,_{21}{\rm Sc}^{45}, ₃₀Zn⁶⁴+ ₂₈Ni⁵⁸_{30}{\rm Zn}^{64}+\,_{28}{\rm Ni}^{58}, ₃₆Kr⁸⁶+ ₄₁Nb⁹³_{36}{\rm Kr}^{86}+\,_{41}{\rm Nb}^{93}) using the quantum molecular dynamics (QMD) model. General features of elliptic flow are investigated with the help of theoretical simulations. The simulations are performed at beam energies between 45 and 105 MeV /nucleon. A significant change can be seen from in-plane to out-of-plane elliptic flow of different fragments with incident energy. A comparison with experimental data is also made. Further, we show that elliptic flow for different fragments follows power-law dependence as given by the function C(A_tot)^tC{(A_{\rm tot})^\tau}.     

Bethe ansatz equations for the brokenZ N -symmetric model

We obtain the Bethe ansatz equations for the brokenZ _N -symmetric model by constructing a functional relation of the transfer matrix ofL-operators. This model is an elliptic off-critical extension of the Fateev-Zamolodchikov model. We calculate the free energy of this model on the basis of the string hypothesis.     

p t -Multiplicity correlations in a multi-pomeron-exchange model with string collective effects

The 〈p _t 〉N _ch - N _ch correlations experimentally observed in the central rapidity region in pp and p collisions, in a wide energy range from the ISR to Tevatron, are described in the framework of a multi-Pomeron exchange model in which string collectivity has been included in an effective way. Three parameters are obtained from the fit to data: the string tension, the average number of particles per string, and a parameter which effectively introduces string collective effects. The model successfully reproduces the rise of 〈p _t 〉 of charged particles, the flattening with growing rapidity density of charged particles and with the collision energy, and the negative p _t -N _ch correlation at low energies. The string tension and the average number of particles per string are energy independent, while the parameter that includes effectively string collective effects shows a smooth increasing behavior with energy. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Partonic effect on anisotropic flows of Ω baryon for Au+Au at 62.4 and 200 GeV/c

The elliptic flow v₂ and the fourth order anisotropic flow v₄ of (Ω+Ω̄) have been studied in the framework a parton–hadronic transport model, namely a multi-phase transport (AMPT) model, for ¹⁹⁷Au+¹⁹⁷Au collisions at = 200 GeV and 62.4 GeV. The transverse momentum (p_T) and the transverse kinetic energy (m_T-m₀) dependence of v₂ and v₄ are presented. The calculation in the AMPT model seems consistent with the STAR data. The results show that the v₂ of (Ω+Ω̄) in 200 GeV obeys the constituent quark number scaling that has been observed for other mesons and baryons. Comparison of (Ω+Ω̄) elliptic flow v₂ in the default version of AMPT, the melting version of AMPT and the RQMD model calculation, shows that the parton cascade process is important to reproduce the sizeable v₂, and the string melting AMPT model preferably reproduces (Ω+Ω̄) elliptic flow v₂ in ¹⁹⁷Au+¹⁹⁷Au collisions at = 200 GeV. The v₂ of (Ω+Ω̄) in the 62.4 and 200 GeV collisions seem similar, and the p_T dependence of (Ω+Ω̄) baryons’ v₄ in 62.4 GeV and 200 GeV looks also similar in the string melting AMPT model, which indicates that a similar partonic matter phase has been reached in both energies.     

Directed and elliptic flow in 197Au+197Au at intermediate energies

Directed and elliptic flow for the ¹⁹⁷Au+¹⁹⁷Au system at incident energies between 40 and 150 MeV per nucleon has been measured using the INDRA 4π multi-detector. For semi-central collisions, the excitation function of elliptic flow shows a transition from in-plane to out-of-plane emission at around 100 MeV per nucleon. The directed flow changes sign at a bombarding energy between 50 and 60 MeV per nucleon and remains negative at lower energies. Molecular dynamics calculations (CHIMERA) indicate sensitivity of the global squeeze-out transition on the σ _NN and demonstrate the importance of angular momentum conservation in transport codes at low energies.     

Recent results from parton-cascade/microscopic transport

The parton-cascade model is a microscopic transport approach in the study of the space-time evolution of the quark–gluon plasma produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions and its experimental manifestations. In the following, parton-cascade calculations on elliptic flow and thermalization will be discussed. Dynamical evolution is shown to be important for the production of elliptic flow including the scaling and the breaking of the scaling of elliptic flow. The degree of thermalization is estimated using both an elastic parton-cascade and a radiative transport model. A longitudinal to transverse pressure ratio of P _L /P _T ≈0.8 is shown to be expected in the central cell in central collisions. This provides information on viscous corrections to the ideal hydrodynamical approach.     

Collective flows in high-energy heavy-ion collisions at AGS and SPS energies

Proton collective flows in heavy-ion collisions from AGS ((2–11) A GeV) to SPS ((40,158) A GeV) energies are investigated in a nonequilibrium transport model with nuclear mean-field (MF). Sideward (p _x), directedv ₁, and ellipticv ₂ flows are systematically studied with different assumptions on the nuclear equation of state (EoS). We find that momentum dependence in the nuclear MF is important for understanding the proton collective flows at AGS and SPS energies. Calculated results with momentum-dependent MF qualitatively reproduce the experimental data of proton sideward, directed, and elliptic flows in an incident energy range of (2–158) A GeV This talk is based on ref. [1]     

Anisotropic flow from AGS to LHC energies

Within hydrodynamics we study the effects of the initial spatial anisotropy in non-central heavy-ion collisions on the momentum distributions of the emitted hadrons. We show that the elliptic flow measured at midrapidity in 158 A GeV/c Pb+Pb collisions can be quantitatively reproduced by hydrodynamic expansion, indicating early thermalization in the collision. We predict the excitation functions of the 2nd and 4th harmonic flow coefficients from AGS to LHC energies and discuss their sensitivity to the quark-hadron phase transition.     

J/ψ azimuthal anisotropy relative to the reaction plane in Pb-Pb collisions at 158?GeV per nucleon

The J/ψ azimuthal distribution relative to the reaction plane has been measured by the NA50 experiment in Pb-Pb collisions at 158 GeV/nucleon. Various physical mechanisms related to charmonium dissociation in the medium created in the heavy ion collision are expected to introduce an anisotropy in the azimuthal distribution of the observed J/ψ mesons at SPS energies. Hence, the measurement of J/ψ elliptic anisotropy, quantified by the Fourier coefficient v ₂ of the J/ψ azimuthal distribution relative to the reaction plane, is an important tool to constrain theoretical models aimed at explaining the anomalous J/ψ suppression observed in Pb-Pb collisions. We present the measured J/ψ yields in different bins of azimuthal angle relative to the reaction plane, as well as the resulting values of the Fourier coefficient v ₂ as a function of the collision centrality and of the J/ψ transverse momentum. The reaction plane has been estimated from the azimuthal distribution of the neutral transverse energy detected in an electromagnetic calorimeter. The analysis has been performed on a data sample of about 100 000 events, distributed in five centrality or p _T sub-samples. The extracted v ₂ values are significantly larger than zero for non-central collisions and are seen to increase with p _T.     

Quantum transport in an anisotropic two-dimensional system under strong magnetic fields

Characteristics of the conductivity tensor are obtained in an anisotropic two-dimensional system where the Fermi surface is given by elliptic form. The anisotropy of the transverse conductivity _xx and _yy depends strongly on the range of scattering potentials: It becomes maximum in case of short-ranged scatterers, and decreases with the increase of the range. The conductivity becomes isotropic in the limit of slowly-varying scatterers if the scattering potential is isotropic. The Hall conductivity is, on the other hand, not affected by the anisotropy strongly.     

Negative elliptic flow of J/ψ’s: A qualitative signature for charm collectivity at RHIC

We discuss one of the most prominent features of the very recent preliminary elliptic flow data of J/ψ-mesons from the PHENIX Collaboration (PHENIX Collaboration (C. Silvestre), arXiv:0806.0475 [nucl-ex]). Even within the rather large error bars of the measured data a negative elliptic flow parameter (v₂) for J/ψ in the range of p _T = 0.5-2.5 GeV/c is visible. We argue that this negative elliptic flow at intermediate p_T is a clear and qualitative signature for the collectivity of charm quarks produced in nucleus-nucleus reactions at RHIC. Within a parton recombination approach we show that a negative elliptic flow puts a lower limit on the collective transverse velocity of heavy quarks. The numerical value of the transverse flow velocity for charm quarks that is necessary to reproduce the data is (charm) ∼ 0.55-0.6c and therefore compatible with the flow of light quarks.     

Crystallographic anisotropy and distortions in helicoidal magnetic structure

The appearance and development of aperiodic distortions in a helicoidal, layered magnetic structure with increasing crystallographic magnetic anisotropy in the magnetization rotation plane have been theoretically studied. A simple phase diagram for this system is proposed. It is established that, at a weak anisotropy, the spiral splits into regions of various lengths with an approximately uniform rotation of the magnetization in each region and a deviation from uniformity at the boundaries; the stronger the anisotropy, the shorter the regions and the greater the deviations. In the limit of high anisotropy, the minimum energy of the system corresponds (depending on the ratio of interlayer exchange integrals J ₁ and J ₂) to either a spiral with constant angular pitch (a multiple of the angle between easy axes) or a double antiferromagnetic structure with a four-layer period. In the case of sixth-order anisotropy with |J ₁| = −J ₂, the energies of phases with different periods (four and six layers for J ₁ > 0; four and three layers for J ₁ < 0) coincide and the excess boundary energy vanishes. In the case of a fourth- and second-order anisotropy, the analogous anomalies appear at |J ₁| = −2J ₂. As a result, the magnetic structure at these points becomes unstable and the phase diagram exhibits the corresponding singularities.