Elliptic Flow: a Study of Space-Momentum Correlations in Relativistic Nuclear Collisions
Abstract
Here I review measurements of v2, the second component in a Fourier decomposition of the azimuthal dependence of particle production relative to the reaction plane in heavy-ion collisions. v2 is an observable central to the interpretation of the subsequent expansion of heavy-ion collisions. Its large value indicates significant space-momentum correlations, consistent with the rapid expansion of a strongly interacting Quark Gluon Plasma. Data is reviewed for collision energies from √{s_{NN}} = 2 to 200 GeV. Scaling observations and comparisons to hydrodynamic models are discussed.
- Publication:
-
Quark-Gluon Plasma 4. Edited by HWA RUDOLPH C & WANG XIN-NIAN. Published by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd
- Pub Date:
- 2010
- DOI:
- 10.1142/9789814293297_0006
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0905.0174
- Bibcode:
- 2010qgp4.book..323S
- Keywords:
-
- Nuclear Experiment
- E-Print:
- 53 pages, 37 figures, a review article written for the QGP4 book edited by Rudy Hwa and Xin-Nian Wang (more minor updates, typos, and updated references)