Correlations between jet-quenching observables at energies available at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

Focusing on four types of correlation plots, R_AA versus v₂, R_AA versus I_AA, I_AA versus v₂^I_AA, and v₂ versus v₂^I_AA, we demonstrate how the centrality dependence of correlations between multiple jet quenching observables provide valuable insight into the energy loss mechanism in a quark-gluon plasma. In particular, we find that a qualitative energy loss model gives a good description of R_AA versus v₂ only when we take ΔE∼l³ and a medium geometry generated by a model of the color glass condensate. This same ΔE∼l³ model also qualitatively describes the trigger p_T dependence of R_AA versus I_AA data and makes novel predictions for the centrality dependence for this R_AA versus I_AA correlation. Current data suggest, albeit with extremely large uncertainty, that v₂^I_AA≫v₂, a correlation that is difficult to reproduce in current energy loss models.