Centrality dependence of v2 in Au + Au at sqrt{s_NN} = 200 GeV

TL;DR

This paper investigates the centrality dependence of elliptic flow ($v_2$) in gold-gold collisions at 200 GeV, aiming to reduce non-flow effects and improve understanding of collision dynamics.

Contribution

It presents a comparison of $v_2$ measurements using different event plane methods with large rapidity gaps to minimize non-flow effects.

Findings

Large rapidity gap reduces non-flow contributions.

Comparison between $v_2$ ext{ZDC-SMD} and $v_2$ ext{BBC} shows consistency.

Results help clarify the true elliptic flow signal.

Abstract

One of the most striking results is the large elliptic flow ($v_2$) at RHIC. Detailed mass and transverse momentum dependence of elliptic flow are well described by ideal hydrodynamic calculations for $p_{\mathrm{T}} < $ 1 GeV/c, and by parton coalescence/recombination picture for $p_{\mathrm{T}} = 2 - 6$ GeV/c. The systematic error on $v_2$ is dominated by so-called "non-flow effects", which is the correlation not originated from reaction plane. It is crucial to understand and reduce the systematic error from non-flow effects in order to understand the underlying collision dynamics. In this paper, we present the centrality dependence of $v_2$ with respect to the first harmonic event plane at ZDC-SMD ($v_2$\{ZDC-SMD\}) in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. Large rapidity gap ($|\Delta\eta| > 6$) between midrapidity and the ZDC could enable us to minimize possible non-flow contributions. We compare the results of $v_2$\{ZDC-SMD\} with $v_2$\{BBC\}, which is measured by event plane determined at $|\eta| = 3.1 - 3.9$. Possible non-flow contributions in those results will be discussed.