Hydrodynamic description of ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in relativistic hydrodynamics applied to ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions, focusing on the gradient expansion as a method to compare hydrodynamic models with microscopic theories.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a formal gradient expansion to systematically compare hydrodynamic models with microscopic theories in heavy-ion collisions.

Findings

Gradient expansion as a tool for model comparison

Insights into the applicability of hydrodynamics in heavy-ion collisions

Framework for connecting hydrodynamic models with microscopic theories

Abstract

Recent theoretical developments of relativistic hydrodynamics applied to ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions are briefly reviewed. In particular, the concept of a formal gradient expansion is discussed, which is a tool to compare different hydrodynamic models with underlying microscopic theories.