Transport Theoretical Description of Collisional Energy Loss in Infinite Quark-Gluon Matter

TL;DR

This paper models the energy loss and momentum broadening of high-momentum partons traveling through a thermalized quark-gluon medium using a Boltzmann equation approach, providing insights into medium response.

Contribution

It introduces a transport-based method to study collisional energy loss and medium response in quark-gluon plasma, extending beyond analytic calculations.

Findings

Transport calculations agree with analytic results where available.

The study reveals temperature and flavor dependence of energy loss.

Provides a framework for consistent medium response analysis.

Abstract

We study the time evolution of a high-momentum gluon or quark propagating through an infinite, thermalized, partonic medium utilizing a Boltzmann equation approach. We calculate the collisional energy loss of the parton, study its temperature and flavor dependence as well as the the momentum broadening incurred through multiple interactions. Our transport calculations agree well with analytic calculations of collisional energy-loss where available, but offer the unique opportunity to address the medium response as well in a consistent fashion.