Non-perturbative Jet Quenching from Geometric Data

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how high-energy jets probe hot QCD matter in heavy ion collisions, revealing that non-perturbative energy loss mechanisms, especially near the critical temperature, better explain experimental data from RHIC and LHC.

Contribution

It provides geometric tomography insights into jet quenching, highlighting the importance of non-perturbative effects near the QCD phase transition, supported by data comparisons.

Findings

Azimuthal anisotropy data discriminate models

Strong enhancement of jet quenching near T_c

Non-perturbative mechanisms favored by data

Abstract

This contribution discusses the geometric tomography by highly energetic jets penetrating the hot QCD matter in heavy ion collisions from RHIC to LHC energies. In particular the geometric data on the azimuthal anisotropy of high $p_t$ hadrons discriminate different models and strongly hint at energy loss mechanism beyond those based on perturbation theory. Taking together the RHIC and LHC data, the comparison with models is in favor of the model with strong enhancement of jet quenching in near-$T_c$ matter.