Time Evolution of Thermal Photon Elliptic Flow

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the elliptic flow of thermal photons evolves over time in quark-gluon plasma, highlighting its sensitivity to initial thermalization time and phase contributions.

Contribution

It provides detailed temporal contours of photon spectra and elliptic flow from different phases, emphasizing the sensitivity of photon flow to initial thermalization time.

Findings

Photon flow builds up gradually over time.

Photon elliptic flow is sensitive to initial thermalization time.

Different phases contribute distinctly to photon flow.

Abstract

Elliptic flow of thermal photons has a great potential to explore the early time dynamics and evolution of Quark Gluon Plasma. $p_T$ dependent temporal contours for photon spectra and elliptic flow from quark matter and hadronic phases, as well as the $p_T$ integrated results show gradual build-up of flow with time and relative contributions from different phases to that very clearly. Unlike hadrons, photon flow is quite sensitive to the initial thermalization time $\tau_0$, and its value can be estimated with the experimental determination of $v_2$.