Measurement of elliptic flow of light nuclei at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200, 62.4, 39, 27, 19.6, 11.5, and 7.7 GeV at RHIC

TL;DR

This study measures the elliptic flow ($v_{2}$) of light nuclei across various energies at RHIC, revealing mass ordering, centrality dependence, and scaling behaviors, and compares results with theoretical models.

Contribution

First comprehensive measurement of light nuclei $v_{2}$ at multiple RHIC energies, demonstrating mass ordering, $A$-scaling, and consistency with coalescence models.

Findings

Mass ordering observed in $v_{2}(p_{T})$ for light nuclei.

$v_{2}$ shows centrality dependence for deuterons and anti-deuterons.

$v_{2}$ results are consistent with blast wave and coalescence model predictions.

Abstract

We present measurements of 2$^{nd}$ order azimuthal anisotropy ($v_{2}$) at mid-rapidity $(|y|<1.0)$ for light nuclei d, t, $^{3}$He (for $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200, 62.4, 39, 27, 19.6, 11.5, and 7.7 GeV) and anti-nuclei $\bar{\rm d}$ ($\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200, 62.4, 39, 27, and 19.6 GeV) and $^{3}\bar{\rm He}$ ($\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV) in the STAR (Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC) experiment. The $v_{2}$ for these light nuclei produced in heavy-ion collisions is compared with those for p and $\bar{\rm p}$. We observe mass ordering in nuclei $v_{2}(p_{T})$ at low transverse momenta ($p_{T}<2.0$ GeV/$c$). We also find a centrality dependence of $v_{2}$ for d and $\bar{\rm d}$. The magnitude of $v_{2}$ for t and $^{3}$He agree within statistical errors. Light-nuclei $v_{2}$ are compared with predictions from a blast wave model. Atomic mass number ($A$) scaling of light-nuclei $v_{2}(p_{T})$ seems to hold for $p_{T}/A < 1.5$ GeV/$c$. Results on light-nuclei $v_{2}$ from a transport-plus-coalescence model are consistent with the experimental measurements.