The balance function in azimuthal angle is a measure of the transverse flow [rapid communication]

The charge or barion number balance function in the relative azimuthal angle of a pair of particles emitted in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions is studied. The π⁺π^- and ppbar balance functions are computed using thermal models with two different set of parameters, corresponding to a large freeze-out temperature and a moderate transverse flow or a small temperature and a large transverse flow. The single-particle spectra including pions from resonance decays are similar for the two scenarios, on the other hand the azimuthal balance function is very different and could serve as an independent measure of the transverse flow at the freeze-out.