arXiv subjects

Arthur M. Poskanzer

Publications and source records attributed to Arthur M. Poskanzer.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2015

Azimuthal Anisotropy Distributions in High-Energy Collisions

Elliptic flow in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions results from the hydrodynamic response to the spatial anisotropy of the initial density profile. A long-standing problem in the interpretation of flow data is that uncertainties in the initial anisotropy are mingled with uncertainties in the response. We argue that the non-Gaussianity of flow fluctuations in small systems can be used to disentangle the initial state from the response. We apply this method to recent measurements of anisotropic flow in Pb+Pb and p+Pb collisions at the LHC. The response coefficient is found to decrease mildly as the system becomes smaller. This mild decrease is consistent with a low value of the ratio of viscosity over entropy.

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arXiv2014

Eccentricity distributions in nucleus-nucleus collisions

We propose a new parametrization of the distribution of the initial eccentricity in a nucleus-nucleus collision at a fixed centrality, which we name the Elliptic Power distribution. It is a two-parameter distribution, where one of the parameters corresponds to the intrinsic eccentricity, while the other parameter controls the magnitude of eccentricity fluctuations. Unlike the previously used Bessel- Gaussian distribution, which becomes worse for more peripheral collisions, the new Elliptic Power distribution fits several Monte Carlo models of the initial state for all centralities.

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arXiv2009

Effect of nonflow and flow fluctuations on elliptic flow methods

We discuss how the different estimates of elliptic flow are influenced by flow fluctuations and nonflow effects. It is explained why the event-plane method yields estimates between the two-particle correlation methods and the multiparticle correlation methods. It is argued that nonflow effects and fluctuations cannot be disentangled without other assumptions. However, we provide equations where, with reasonable assumptions about fluctuations and nonflow, all measured values of elliptic flow converge to a unique mean elliptic flow in the participant plane. Thus, the 20% spread in observed elliptic flow measurements from different analysis methods is no longer mysterious.

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arXiv2009

Effect of flow fluctuations and nonflow on elliptic flow methods

We discuss how the different estimates of elliptic flow are influenced by flow fluctuations and nonflow effects. It is explained why the event-plane method yields estimates between the two-particle correlation methods and the multiparticle correlation methods. It is argued that nonflow effects and fluctuations cannot be disentangled without other assumptions. However, we provide equations where, with reasonable assumptions about fluctuations and nonflow, all measured values of elliptic flow converge to a unique mean v_{2,PP} elliptic flow in the participant plane and, with a Gaussian assumption on eccentricity fluctuations, can be converted to the mean v_{2,RP} in the reaction plane. Thus, the 20% spread in observed elliptic flow measurements from different analysis methods is no longer mysterious.

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arXiv2008

Collective phenomena in non-central nuclear collisions

Recent developments in the field of anisotropic flow in nuclear collision are reviewed. The results from the top AGS energy to the top RHIC energy are discussed with emphasis on techniques, interpretation, and uncertainties in the measurements.

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arXiv2007

Elliptic flow in the Gaussian model of eccentricity fluctuations

We discuss a specific model of elliptic flow fluctuations due to Gaussian fluctuations in the initial spatial $x$ and $y$ eccentricity components $\left\{\mean{(σ_y^2-σ_x^2)/(σ_x^2+σ_y^2)}, \mean{2σ_{xy}/(σ_x^2+σ_y^2)} \right\}$. We find that in this model $\vfour$, elliptic flow determined from 4-particle cumulants, exactly equals the average flow value in the reaction plane coordinate system, $\mean{v_{RP}}$, the relation which, in an approximate form, was found earlier by Bhalerao and Ollitrault in a more general analysis, but under the same assumption that $v_2$ is proportional to the initial system eccentricity. We further show that in the Gaussian model all higher order cumulants are equal to $\vfour$. Analysis of the distribution in the magnitude of the flow vector, the $Q-$distribution, reveals that it is totally defined by two parameters, $\vtwo$, the flow from 2-particle cumulants, and $\vfour$, thus providing equivalent information compared to the method of cumulants. The flow obtained from the $Q-$distribution is again $\vfour=\mean{v_{RP}}$.

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arXiv2004

Azimuthal anisotropy: the higher harmonics

We report the first observations of the fourth harmonic (v_4) in the azimuthal distribution of particles at RHIC. The measurement was done taking advantage of the large elliptic flow generated at RHIC. The integrated v_4 is about a factor of 10 smaller than v_2. For the sixth (v_6) and eighth (v_8) harmonics upper limits on the magnitudes are reported.

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arXiv2001

Anisotropic Flow at the SPS and RHIC

The results on directed and elliptic flow for Pb + Pb at the full energy of the SPS (158 GeV/A) and from the first year of Au + Au at RHIC (sqrt{s_{_{NN}}=130 GeV) are reviewed. The different experiments agree well and a consistent picture has emerged indicating early time thermalization at RHIC.

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