Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Marlene Nahrgang

Publications and source records attributed to Marlene Nahrgang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

Shear viscosity from fluctuations in linearized relativistic hydrodynamics

In this work we incorporate thermal fluctuations into fluid-dynamic simulations with the vHLLE code, in linear approximation. The fluctuations are built in following the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. The effect of space discretization into cells in numerical hydrodynamics on the spatial correlation of fluctuations is studied with the help of static structure factor. A difference from the continuum result is pointed out and systematically investigated. Time evolution of the ensuing fluctuations is examined and the Green-Kubo formula is used for the extraction of shear viscosity from the fluctuations. The extracted value is demonstrated to be the same as the input value of the shear viscosity for the simulations using Israel-Stewart equations. It is also shown that numerical regulators commonly used in the codes to ensure stability of the calculation severely spoil the fluctuations and break the fluctuation-dissipation theorem.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2026

Statistical Mechanics of Quarkyonic Matter

We extend the theoretical formulation of Quarkyonic Matter within the IdylliQ model framework proposed in [Y. Fujimoto et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 112701 (2024) [1]] for zero temperature to non-zero temperatures. To this end, we develop a consistent statistical mechanics and grand canonical ensemble description of Quarkyonic Matter as a quantum system subject to additional inequality constraints due to the Pauli exclusion principle acting simultaneously on baryons and their constituent quarks. These constraints result in a significant reduction in the number of physically available baryon states compared to an ideal Fermi gas. As a consequence, the one-particle baryon distribution function factorizes into a thermal Fermi-Dirac distribution and a momentum-dependent density of states. This separation allows us to derive a proper definition of the entropy density that satisfies the third law of thermodynamics in the zero-temperature limit. Moreover, we find that inside Quarkyonic Matter the physical temperature and the physical baryon chemical potential differ from the Lagrange multipliers appearing in the Fermi-Dirac distribution which may have important consequences for the thermodynamics of Quarkyonic Matter.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2025

Prospective report of the French QCD community to the ESPPU 2025 with respect to the program of the LHC Run 5 and beyond and future colliders at CERN

This document summarizes the prospective physics plans of the French QCD and Heavy-Ion community, including the experimental programs at the LHC Run 5 and beyond and future colliders at CERN, within the context of the French contribution to the update of the European Strategy in Particle Physics (ESPPU 2025), as discussed in the workshop on European Strategy for Particle Physics Update 2025 organised by the QCD GdR in Oct. 2024.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2024

Quark saturation in the QCD phase diagram

We determine the onset of Quarkyonic Matter corresponding to values of temperature and baryon chemical potential at which the quark phase space density becomes one. At zero temperature for baryon chemical potentials below the mass of the Lambda baryon, only nucleons contribute to the quark density. This is different at finite temperature, where all baryons, mesons and their resonances can be excited and thus add quarks to the phase space. The probability density to find a quark inside a hadron is determined using the Yukawa ansatz of the IdylliQ model of Quarkyonic Matter. We estimate separately the magnitude of the various contributions of nucleons, Delta baryons, pions as well as further hadrons and resonances. The uncertainty in the parametrization of the probability density to find a quark inside a nucleon is spanned by assuming that at zero temperature the transition density to Quarkyonic Matter is between one and three times that of nuclear matter. Various predictions for a possible critical point associated with the chiral phase transition are found close to a triple point at which the line of the deconfinement transition and the curve associated with the transition to Quarkyonic Matter intersect. These considerations provide an estimate for the region in the QCD phase diagram where Quarkyonic Matter may be found.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2024

Renormalized critical dynamics and fluctuations in model A

In the context of relativistic heavy-ion collisions, we explore the stochastic and dissipative relaxational dynamics of a non-conserved order parameter in a $λφ^4$ interaction. The cutoff of the theory is provided by the lattice spacing chosen for our numerical simulations. As a consequence, observables become dependent on that scale. We consider a possible first-order phase transition and an evolution close to a critical point. We demonstrate that using a lattice counterterm restores the expected behavior of the mean, variance and kurtosis: the mean and the variance become lattice spacing independent, and we recover the correct expectation value of the mean, the growth of the variance with the correlation length and the expected minimum in the kurtosis. Our findings hold true in equilibrium and during the dynamical relaxation, and therefore mark an important step towards a fully fluctuating fluid dynamical setup.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2024

Efficient solver of relativistic hydrodynamics with implicit Runge-Kutta method

We propose a new method to solve the relativistic hydrodynamic equations based on implicit Runge-Kutta methods with a locally optimized fixed-point iterative solver. For numerical demonstration, we implement our idea for ideal hydrodynamics using the one-stage Gauss-Legendre method as an implicit method. The accuracy and computational cost of our new method are compared with those of explicit ones for the (1+1)-dimensional Riemann problem, as well as the (2+1)-dimensional Gubser flow and event-by-event initial conditions for heavy-ion collisions generated by TrENTo. We demonstrate that the solver converges with only one iteration in most cases, and as a result, the implicit method requires a smaller computational cost than the explicit one at the same accuracy in these cases, while it may not converge with an unrealistically large $Δt$. By showing a relationship between the one-stage Gauss-Legendre method with the iterative solver and the two-step Adams-Bashforth method, we argue that our method benefits from both the stability of the former and the efficiency of the latter.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2022

Net-proton number cumulant ratios as function of beam energy from an expanding nonequilibrium chiral fluid

The beam energy scan program at RHIC provides data on net-proton number fluctuations with the goal to detect the QCD critical end point and first-order phase transition. Interpreting these experimental signals requires a vital understanding of the interplay of critical phenomena and the nonequilibrium dynamics of the rapidly expanding fireball. We study these aspects with a fluid dynamic expansion coupled to the explicit propagation of the chiral order parameter sigma via a Langevin equation. Assuming a sigma-proton coupling through an effective proton mass, we relate cumulants of the order parameter and the net-proton number at freeze-out and obtain observable cumulant ratios as a function of beam energy. We emphasize the role of the nonequilibrium first-order phase transition where a mixed phase with gradual freeze-out can significantly alter the cumulants. We find that the presence of a critical end point is clearly visible in the cumulant ratios for a relatively wide range of center-of-mass energies.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2022

Critical net-baryon fluctuations in an expanding system

In this work we study the consequences of a longitudinal Bjorken expansion and a Hubble-like temperature cooling scenario on a 1+1D non-linear model of the diffusive dynamics of fluctuations in the net-baryon density. The equilibrium behavior of the fluctuations is fully encoded in the temperature dependence of the susceptibilities on the crossover side both in the vicinity of the assumed location of the critical point and at vanishing baryo-chemical potential in-line with lattice QCD calculations. We demonstrate the great sensitivity of the fluctuation observables on the dynamics, in particular on the diffusion length and the freeze-out conditions. While the critical signals are visible and the critical region is broadened by the expansion, a too small diffusion length can strongly reduce the amplitude of the signals. We propose to search for significant anti-correlations of baryons at intermediate rapidity experimentally and to map out the rapidity dependence of the fourth-order cumulant, which in the presence of a critical point (and only in its presence) has a pronounced minimum at intermediate rapidities.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2022

Cumulants of the chiral order parameter at lower RHIC energies

We study cumulants of the chiral order parameter as function of beam energy as a possible signal for the presence of a critical end point and first-order phase transition in the QCD phase diagram. We model the expansion of a heavy-ion collision by a fluid dynamic expansion coupled to the explicit propagation of the chiral order parameter sigma via a Langevin equation. We evolve the medium until a parametrized freeze-out condition is met where we calculate event-by-event fluctuations and cumulants of sigma which are expected to follow the trend of net-proton number cumulants. We emphasize the role of a nonequilibrium first-order phase transition: The presence of an unstable phase causes the well-known bending of the trajectories in the space of temperature and baryochemical potential. For these cases at lower beam energies, the system crosses the freeze-out line more than once, allowing us to calculate a range of cumulants for each initial condition which are overall enhanced for the second hit of the freeze-out line. We thus find not only the critical end point but also the phase transition of the underlying model clearly reflected in the cumulants. The impact of volume fluctuations is demonstrated to play a measurable role for fluid dynamical evolutions that last significantly long.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2021

Competition between diffusion and rapid expansion and its impact on critical fluctuations in heavy-ion collisions

We study the impact of the competition between the expansion of the medium created in heavy-ion collisions and its diffusive properties on the critical fluctuations of the net-baryon density. As the relaxation time of the fluctuations is connected with the diffusive properties, the latter determine the in- or out-of-equilibrium nature of the net-baryon density fluctuations during the fireball evolution. This may result in important consequences for the phenomenological interpretation of heavy-ion collision data. We study three possible situations that can occur as a result of the competition between diffusion and expansion and discuss the impact of this competition on the integrated second and fourth order cumulants of net-baryon density fluctuations at freeze-out in these situations.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2021

The BEST framework for the search for the QCD critical point and the chiral magnetic effect

The Beam Energy Scan Theory (BEST) Collaboration was formed with the goal of providing a theoretical framework for analyzing data from the Beam Energy Scan (BES) program at the relativistic heavy ion collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The physics goal of the BES program is the search for a conjectured QCD critical point as well as for manifestations of the chiral magnetic effect. We describe progress that has been made over the previous five years. This includes studies of the equation of state and equilibrium susceptibilities, the development of suitable initial state models, progress in constructing a hydrodynamic framework that includes fluctuations and anomalous transport effects, as well as the development of freezeout prescriptions and hadronic transport models. Finally, we address the challenge of integrating these components into a complete analysis framework. This document describes the collective effort of the BEST Collaboration and its collaborators around the world.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2020

Modeling the diffusive dynamics of critical fluctuations near the QCD critical point

The experimental search for the QCD critical point by means of relativistic heavy-ion collisions necessitates the development of dynamical models of fluctuations. In this work we study the fluctuations of the net-baryon density near the critical point. Due to net-baryon number conservation the correct dynamics is given by the fluid dynamical diffusion equation, which we extend by a white noise stochastic term to include intrinsic fluctuations. We quantify finite resolution and finite size effects by comparing our numerical results to analytic expectations for the structure factor and the equal-time correlation function. In small systems the net-baryon number conservation turns out to be quantitatively and qualitatively important, as it introduces anticorrelations at larger distances. Including nonlinear coupling terms in the form of a Ginzburg-Landau free energy functional we observe non-Gaussian fluctuations quantified by the excess kurtosis. We study the dynamical properties of the system close to equilibrium, for a sudden quench in temperature and a Hubble-like temperature evolution. In the real-time dynamical systems we find the important dynamical effects of critical slowing down, weakening of the extremal value and retardation of the fluctuation signal. In this work we establish a set of general tests, which should be met by any model propagating fluctuations, including upcoming $3+1$ dimensional fluctuating fluid dynamics.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2020

Locating the freeze-out curve in heavy-ion collisions

Based on transport equations we argue that the chiral dynamics in heavy-ion collisions at high collision energies effectively decouples from the thermal physics of the fireball. With full decoupling at LHC energies the chiral condensate relaxes to its vacuum expectation value on a much shorter time scale than the typical evolution time of the fluid dynamical fields and their fluctuations. In particular, the net-baryon density remains coupled to the bulk evolution at all collision energies. As the mass scales of the hadrons are controlled by the chiral condensate, it is reasonable to employ vacuum masses in the statistical description of the hadron production at the chemical freeze-out for high collision energies. We predict that at lower collision energies the coupling of the chiral condensate to the thermal medium gradually increases with consequences for the related hadronic masses. A new estimate for the location of the freeze-out curve takes these effects into account.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2020

QCD equation of state matched to lattice data and exhibiting a critical point singularity

We construct a family of equations of state for QCD in the temperature range 30 MeV $\leq T\leq$ 800 MeV and in the chemical potential range $0\leq μ_B \leq$ 450 MeV. These equations of state match available lattice QCD results up to $\mathcal{O}(μ_B^4)$ and in each of them we place a critical point in the 3D Ising model universality class. The position of this critical point can be chosen in the range of chemical potentials covered by the second Beam Energy Scan at RHIC. We discuss possible choices for the free parameters, which arise from mapping the Ising model onto QCD. Our results for the pressure, entropy density, baryon density, energy density and speed of sound can be used as inputs in the hydrodynamical simulations of the fireball created in heavy ion collisions. We also show our result for the second cumulant of the baryon number in thermal equilibrium, displaying its divergence at the critical point. In the future, comparisons between RHIC data and the output of the hydrodynamic simulations, including calculations of fluctuation observables, built upon the model equations of state that we have constructed may be used to locate the critical point in the QCD phase diagram, if there is one to be found.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2020

Critical fluctuations in a dynamically expanding heavy-ion collision

For the discovery of the QCD critical point it is crucial to develop dynamical models of the fluctuations of the net-baryon number that can be embedded in simulations of heavy-ion collisions. In this proceeding, we study the dynamical formation of the critical fluctuations of the net-baryon number near the QCD critical point and their survival in the late stages in an expanding system. The stochastic diffusion equation with a non-linear free energy functional is employed for describing the evolution of conserved-charge fluctuations along trajectories in the crossover and first-order transition regions near the QCD critical point.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2020

Traces of non-equilibrium effects, initial condition, bulk dynamics and elementary collisions in the charm observables

We study how heavy quark dynamics is affected by the nature of the bulk evolution of the QCD matter, the initial condition of the system, and the treatment of elementary interactions between heavy quarks and the surrounding medium. For the same initial condition and the same QGP expansion scenario we discuss the consequences of the assumption of a local equilibrium by comparing the consequences for the nuclear modification factor and the elliptic flows of charm quarks. For this purpose we employ the parton-hadron-string dynamics (PHSD), which is an off-shell microscopic transport approach, as well as the linearized-Boltzmann (LB) scheme obtained by coarse graining the PHSD bulk and assuming local equilibrium for the interactions of the charm quarks with the bulk. The $R_{\rm AA}$ of charm quarks stemming from the later LB approach is also compared to a genuine fluid dynamics evolution initiated by the coarse grained PHSD, which allows to further assess the consequences of reducing the full n-body dynamics. We then proceed to a systematic comparison of PHSD with MC@HQ, another transport model for heavy flavors which also relies on LB approach. In particular, we investigate the consequences for the nuclear modification factor of charm quarks if we vary separately the initial heavy quark distribution function in matter, the expansion dynamics of the QGP and the elementary interactions of heavy quarks of these models. We find that the results for both models vary significantly depending on the details of the calculation. However, both models achieve very similar predictions for key heavy quark observables for certain combinations of initial condition, bulk evolution and interactions. We conclude that this ambiguity limits our ability to determine the different properties of the system based on the current set of observables.

nucl-th↗