Electromagnetic field evolution in relativistic heavy-ion collision and its effect on flow of particles

TL;DR

This study models electromagnetic fields in relativistic heavy-ion collisions and examines their impact on particle flow, revealing non-uniform modifications and a maximum of about 3% increase in elliptic flow.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of electromagnetic field effects on particle flow harmonics using the iEBE-VISHNU framework, highlighting the dominance of mass over charge in these effects.

Findings

Flow harmonics are suppressed or enhanced non-uniformly during evolution.

Maximum of nearly 3% increase observed in elliptic flow.

Magnetic field perpendicular to the reaction plane is sizable.

Abstract

We compute the electromagnetic fields generated in relativistic heavy-ion collisions using the iEBE-VISHNU framework. We calculated the incremental drift velocity from the possible four sources of the electric force (coulomb, Lorentz, Faraday, and Plasma-based) on the particles created. The effect of this external electromagnetic field on the flow harmonics of particles was investigated, and we found out that the flow harmonics values get suppressed and rouse in a non-uniform fashion throughout the evolution. More precisely, a maximum of close to three percent increase in elliptic flow was observed. We also found mass more dominant factor than charges for the change in flow harmonics due to the created electromagnetic field. On the top of that, the magnetic field perpendicular to the reaction plane is found to be sizable while the different radial electric forces were found to cancel out each other. Finally, we found out that the inclusion of an electromagnetic field affects the flow of particles by suppressing or rising it in a non-uniform fashion throughout the evolution.