Event-by-Event Fluctuations of Azimuthal Particle Anisotropy in Au+Au Collisions at {radical}(s{sub NN})=200 GeV

Journal Article · Fri Apr 09 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.104.142301· OSTI ID:21410626

Alver, B; Ballintijn, M; Busza, W; Decowski, M P; Gulbrandsen, K; Henderson, C; Kane, J L; Kulinich, P; Li, W; Loizides, C; Reed, C; Roland, C; Roland, G; Stephans, G S. F.; Vale, C; Nieuwenhuizen, G J. van; Vaurynovich, S S; Verdier, R; Veres, G I; Wenger, E ^[1]

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1. Laboratory for Nuclear Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-4307 (United States)

This Letter presents the first measurement of event-by-event fluctuations of the elliptic flow parameter v{sub 2} in Au+Au collisions at {radical}(s{sub NN})=200 GeV as a function of collision centrality. The relative nonstatistical fluctuations of the v{sub 2} parameter are found to be approximately 40%. The results, including contributions from event-by-event elliptic flow fluctuations and from azimuthal correlations that are unrelated to the reaction plane (nonflow correlations), establish an upper limit on the magnitude of underlying elliptic flow fluctuations. This limit is consistent with predictions based on spatial fluctuations of the participating nucleons in the initial nuclear overlap region. These results provide important constraints on models of the initial state and hydrodynamic evolution of relativistic heavy ion collisions.

• OSTI ID: 21410626
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 14 Vol. 104; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
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CONFIGURATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ELLIPTICAL CONFIGURATION
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