Correlation between elliptic flow and shear viscosity in intermediate-energy heavy-ion collisions

TL;DR

This study explores how elliptic flow correlates with shear viscosity and specific viscosity in intermediate-energy heavy-ion collisions, revealing linear and inverse relationships that enhance understanding of nuclear matter properties.

Contribution

First investigation of the correlation between elliptic flow scaled by impact parameter and shear viscosity in intermediate-energy collisions using an isospin-dependent quantum molecular dynamic model.

Findings

$v_2/b$ decreases linearly with increasing shear viscosity $\\eta$.

$v_2/b$ increases with increasing specific viscosity $\eta/s$.

Abstract

The correlation between the elliptic flow $v_2$ scaled by the impact parameter $b$ and the shear viscosity $\eta$ as well as the specific viscosity $\eta/s$, defined as the ratio of the shear viscosity to the entropy density $s$, is investigated for the first time in intermediate-energy heavy-ion collisions based on an isospin-dependent quantum molecular dynamic model. The elliptic flow is calculated at balance energies to exclude the geometric influence such as the blocking effect from the spectators. Our study shows that $v_{2}/b$ decreases almost linearly with increasing $\eta$, consistent with that observed in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions. On the other hand, $v_{2}/b$ is found to increase with increasing $\eta/s$.