New constraints for QCD matter from improved Bayesian parameter estimation in heavy-ion collisions at LHC

TL;DR

This paper improves the estimation of quark-gluon plasma transport properties in heavy-ion collisions at LHC by using advanced Bayesian analysis and new flow observables, revealing stronger temperature dependence and more precise parameters.

Contribution

It introduces an improved Bayesian framework incorporating new collective flow data at two energies, significantly reducing uncertainties in transport coefficients.

Findings

Stronger temperature dependence of shear viscosity.

Lower bulk viscosity values.

Higher hadronization temperature.

Abstract

The transport properties of quark-gluon plasma created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions are quantified by an improved global Bayesian analysis using the CERN Large Hadron Collider Pb--Pb data at $\sqrt{s_{\textbf{NN}}}=2.76\;$ and $5.02\;$TeV. The results show that the uncertainty of the extracted transport coefficients is significantly reduced by including new sophisticated collective flow observables from two collision energies for the first time. This work reveals the stronger temperature dependence of specific shear viscosity, a lower value of specific bulk viscosity, and a higher hadronization switching temperature than in the previous studies. The sensitivity analysis confirms that the precision measurements of higher-order harmonic flow and their correlations are crucial in extracting accurate values of the transport properties.