Non-linear flow response and reaction plane correlations

TL;DR

This paper uses non-linear flow response formalism to interpret event plane correlations in heavy-ion collisions, showing they result from a mix of linear and non-linear effects.

Contribution

It introduces a framework combining linear and non-linear flow responses to explain event plane correlations.

Findings

Event plane correlations can be understood as averages of linear and non-linear limits.

The formalism successfully describes recent measurements.

Linear and non-linear effects jointly shape flow observables.

Abstract

We apply the non-linear flow response formalism to the recently measured event plane correlations. We find that as a result of the combined effects of linear and non-linear flow response, the observed event plane correlations can be understood as an effective average of the 'linear limit' and 'non-linear limit'.