arXiv subjects

Bojana Ilic

Publications and source records attributed to Bojana Ilic.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Cone-Dependent Jet Collisional Energy Loss in Finite QCD Medium

We derive a compact HTL-resummed expression for the leading-order jet collisional energy loss in a finite-size, finite-temperature QCD medium. Defining the jet energy inside a cone of radius $R$, we obtain the out-of-cone elastic energy loss with an explicit separation between contributions from the primary jet parton and recoiling medium partons. The result reproduces the known partonic limit as $R\!\to\!0$, vanishes for $R\!\to\!π$, and applies to both light- and heavy-flavor jets. Numerically, the elastic component shows a pronounced non-linear $R$ dependence relative to the radiative baseline, and its importance increases with $R$, becoming comparable to or exceeding the radiative contribution for sufficiently large jet radii. The path-length dependence remains close to linear for all $R$, while the medium-response contribution can exceed $10\%$ for realistic jet radii.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2023

Importance of higher orders in opacity in QGP tomography

We consider the problem of including a finite number of scattering centers in dynamical energy loss and classical DGLV formalism. Previously, either one or an infinite number of scattering centers were considered in energy loss calculations, while attempts to relax such approximations were largely inconclusive or incomplete. In reality, however, the number of scattering centers is generally estimated to be 4-5 at RHIC and the LHC, making the above approximations (a priori) inadequate and this theoretical problem significant for QGP tomography. We derived explicit analytical expressions for dynamical energy loss and DGLV up to the $4^{th}$ order in opacity, resulting in complex mathematical expressions that were, to our knowledge, obtained for the first time. These expressions were then implemented into an appropriately generalized DREENA framework to calculate the effects of higher orders in opacity on a wide range of high-$p_\perp$ light and heavy flavor predictions. Results of extensive numerical analysis, together with interpretations of nonintuitive results, are presented. We find that, for both RHIC and the LHC, higher-order effects on high-$p_\perp$ observables are small, and the approximation of a single scattering center is adequate for dynamical energy loss and DGLV formalisms.

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arXiv2022

Utilizing high-$p_\perp$ theory and data to constrain the initial stages of quark-gluon plasma

The scarce knowledge of the initial stages of quark-gluon plasma before the thermalization is mostly inferred through the low-$p_\perp$ sector. We propose a complementary approach in this report - the use of high-$p_\perp$ probes' energy loss. We study the effects of four commonly assumed initial stages, whose temperature profiles differ only before the thermalization, on high-$p_\perp$ $R_{AA}$ and $v_2$ predictions. The predictions are based on our Dynamical Radiative and Elastic ENergy-loss Approach (DREENA) framework. We report insensitivity of $v_2$ to the initial stages, making it unable to distinguish between different cases. $R_{AA}$ displays sensitivity to the presumed initial stages, but current experimental precision does not allow resolution between these cases. We further revise the commonly accepted procedure of fitting the energy loss parameters, for each individual initial stage, to the measured $R_{AA}$. We show that the sensitivity of $v_2$ to various initial stages obtained through such procedure is mostly a consequence of fitting procedure, which may obscure the physical interpretations. Overall, the simultaneous study of high-$p_\perp$ observables, with unchanged energy loss parametrization and restrained temperature profiles, is crucial for future constraints on initial stages.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Understanding mass hierarchy in collisional energy loss through heavy flavor data

While experimental observations, such as the mass hierarchy effect, are attributed and analyzed within radiative models, their interpretation crucially depends on collisional energy loss contribution, which is often neglected in such analyses. To our knowledge, neither a (direct) simple relation between collisional energy loss and heavy quark mass is established, nor an observable that quantifies this effect. On the other hand, the upcoming high-luminosity measurements at RHIC and LHC will generate heavy flavor data with unprecedented precision, providing an opportunity to utilize high-pT heavy flavor data to analyze the interaction mechanisms in the quark-gluon plasma. To this end, we employ a recently developed DREENA framework based on our dynamical energy loss formalism to study the mass hierarchy in heavy flavor suppression. We present i) Analytical derivation of a direct relation between collisional suppression/energy loss and heavy quark mass. ii) A novel observable sensitive only to the collisional energy loss mechanism to be tested by future high-precision experiments. iii) Analytical and numerical extraction of the mass hierarchy in collisional energy losses through this observable.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

A systems biology approach to COVID-19 progression in a population

A number of models in mathematical epidemiology have been developed to account for control measures such as vaccination or quarantine. However, COVID-19 has brought unprecedented social distancing measures, with a challenge on how to include these in a manner that can explain the data but avoid overfitting in parameter inference. We here develop a simple time-dependent model, where social distancing effects are introduced analogous to coarse-grained models of gene expression control in systems biology. We apply our approach to understand drastic differences in COVID-19 infection and fatality counts, observed between Hubei (Wuhan) and other Mainland China provinces. We find that these unintuitive data may be explained through an interplay of differences in transmissibility, effective protection, and detection efficiencies between Hubei and other provinces. More generally, our results demonstrate that regional differences may drastically shape infection outbursts. The obtained results demonstrate the applicability of our developed method to extract key infection parameters directly from publically available data so that it can be globally applied to outbreaks of COVID-19 in a number of countries. Overall, we show that applications of uncommon strategies, such as methods and approaches from molecular systems biology research to mathematical epidemiology, may significantly advance our understanding of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

q-bio.PE↗

arXiv2021

Understanding infection progression under strong control measures through universal COVID-19 growth signatures

Widespread growth signatures in COVID-19 confirmed case counts are reported, with sharp transitions between three distinct dynamical regimes (exponential, superlinear and sublinear). Through analytical and numerical analysis, a novel framework is developed that exploits information in these signatures. An approach well known to physics is applied, where one looks for common dynamical features, independently from differences in other factors. These features and associated scaling laws are used as a powerful tool to pinpoint regions where analytical derivations are effective, get an insight into qualitative changes of the disease progression, and infer the key infection parameters. The developed framework for joint analytical and numerical analysis of empirically observed COVID-19 growth patterns can lead to a fundamental understanding of infection progression under strong control measures, applicable to outbursts of both COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

q-bio.PE↗

arXiv2020

From high $p_\perp$ theory and data to inferring anisotropy of Quark-Gluon Plasma

High $p_\perp$ theory and data are commonly used to study high $p_\perp$ parton interactions with QGP, while low $p_\perp$ data and corresponding models are employed to infer QGP bulk properties. On the other hand, with a proper description of high $p_\perp$ parton-medium interactions, high $p_\perp$ probes become also powerful tomography tools, since they are sensitive to global QGP features, such as different temperature profiles or initial conditions. This tomographic role of high $p_\perp$ probes can be utilized to assess the spatial anisotropy of the QCD matter. With our dynamical energy loss formalism, we show that a (modified) ratio of $R_{AA}$ and $v_2$ presents a reliable and robust observable for straightforward extraction of initial state anisotropy. We analytically estimated the proportionality between the $v_2/(1-R_{AA})$ and anisotropy coefficient $ε_{2L}$, and found surprisingly good agreement with full-fledged numerical calculations. Within the current error bars, the extraction of the anisotropy from the existing data using this approach is still inaccessible. However, with the expected accuracy improvement in the upcoming LHC runs, the anisotropy of the QGP formed in heavy ion collisions can be straightforwardly derived from the data. Such a data-based anisotropy parameter would present an important test to models describing the initial stages of heavy-ion collision and formation of QGP, and demonstrate the usefulness of high $p_\perp$ theory and data in obtaining QGP properties.

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arXiv2020

Extracting the temperature dependence in high-$p_\perp$ particle energy loss

The suppression of high-$p_\perp$ particles is one of the main signatures of parton energy loss during its passing through the QGP medium, and is reasonably reproduced by different theoretical models. However, a decisive test of the reliability of a certain energy loss mechanism, apart from its path-length, is its temperature dependence. Despite its importance and comprehensive dedicated studies, this issue is still awaiting for more stringent constraints. To this end, we here propose a novel observable to extract temperature dependence exponent of high-$p_{\perp}$ particle's energy loss, based on $R_{AA}$. More importantly, by combining analytical arguments, full-fledged numerical calculations and comparison with experimental data, we argue that this observable is highly suited for testing (and rejecting) the long-standing $ΔE/E \propto L^2 T^3$ paradigm. The anticipated significant reduction of experimental errors will allow direct extraction of temperature dependence, by considering different centrality pair in $A + A$ collisions (irrespective of the nucleus size) in high-$p_\perp$ region. Overall, our results imply that this observable, which reflects the underlying energy loss mechanism, is very important to distinguish between different theoretical models.

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arXiv2019

Exploring the initial stages in heavy-ion collisions with high-pT RAA and v2 theory and data

Traditionally, low-pT sector is used to infer the features of initial stages before QGP thermalization. On the other hand, recently acquired wealth of high-pT experimental data paves the way to utilize the high-pT particles energy loss in exploring the initial stages. We here study how four different commonly considered initial-stage scenarios which have the same temperature profile after, but differ in the 'temperature' profile before thermalization affect predictions of high-pT RAA and v2 observables. Contrary to common expectations, we obtain that high-pT v2 is insensitive to the initial stages of medium evolution, being unable to discriminate between different conditions. On the other hand, RAA is sensitive to these conditions, however, within the current errorbars, the sensitivity is not sufficient to distinguish between different initial stages. Moreover, we also reconsider the validity of widely-used procedure of fitting the energy loss parameters, individually for different initial-stage cases, to reproduce the experimentally observed RAA. We here find that previously reported sensitivity of v2 to different initial states is mainly a consequence of the RAA fitting procedure, which may lead to incorrect conclusions. On the other hand, if a global property, in particular the same average temperature, is imposed to tested temperature profiles, high sensitivity of high-pT v2 is again obtained. We however show that this sensitivity would not be a consequence of differences in initial, but rather final, stages. Consequently, the simultaneous study of high-pT RAA and v2, with consistent energy loss parametrization and stringently controlled temperature profiles, is necessary to assess sensitivity of different variables to differences in initial and final stages.

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