Linear Boltzmann Transport for Jet Propagation in the Quark-Gluon Plasma: Elastic Processes and Medium Recoil

TL;DR

This paper develops a Linear Boltzmann Transport model in perturbative QCD to study how jets propagate through quark-gluon plasma, focusing on elastic scattering, medium recoil, and jet modifications.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive model tracking both leading and recoil partons, incorporating all elastic scattering processes to analyze jet-medium interactions.

Findings

Thermal recoil partons significantly affect jet shape and fragmentation.

Elastic energy loss and transverse momentum broadening depend on jet energy and path length.

Medium modifications alter jet shape and angular distributions.

Abstract

A Linear Boltzmann Transport model within perturbative QCD is developed for the study of parton propagation inside the quark-gluon plasma. Both leading partons and thermal recoil partons are tracked so that one can also study jet-induced medium excitations. In this study, we implement the complete set of elastic parton scattering processes and investigate elastic parton energy loss, transverse momentum broadening and their nontrivial energy and length dependence. We further investigate medium modifications of the jet shape and fragmentation functions of reconstructed jets. Contributions from thermal recoil partons are found to have significant influences on jet shape, fragmentation functions and angular distribution of reconstructed jets.