Electromagnetic radiation as a probe of the initial state and of viscous dynamics in relativistic nuclear collisions

TL;DR

This paper investigates how electromagnetic signals can reveal the initial state and viscous properties of the medium in relativistic nuclear collisions, using advanced hydrodynamic simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of electromagnetic probes considering initial conditions and shear relaxation time within a 3+1D viscous hydrodynamic framework.

Findings

Electromagnetic signals are sensitive to initial conditions and shear relaxation time.

Simulation results show significant effects of viscous dynamics on electromagnetic spectra.

The study enhances understanding of medium properties via electromagnetic probes.

Abstract

The penetrating nature of electromagnetic signals makes them suitable probes to explore the properties of the strongly-interacting medium created in relativistic nuclear collisions. We examine the effects of the initial conditions and shear relaxation time on the spectra and flow coefficients of electromagnetic probes, using an event-by-event 3+1D viscous hydrodynamic simulation (MUSIC).