Development of transverse flow for small and large systems in conformal kinetic theory

TL;DR

This paper uses an effective kinetic theory to analyze how transverse flow develops in small and large collision systems, revealing persistent deviations from hydrodynamics even at high interaction rates.

Contribution

It introduces a combined analytical and numerical approach to describe transverse flow development across different system sizes and opacities, highlighting the role of pre-equilibrium phases.

Findings

Transverse flow develops across all system sizes and opacities.

Deviations from hydrodynamics persist even at high interaction rates.

Pre-equilibrium phases significantly influence flow development.

Abstract

We employ an effective kinetic description to study the space-time dynamics and development of transverse flow of small and large collision systems. By combining analytical insights in the few interactions limit with numerical simulations at higher opacity, we are able to describe the development of transverse flow from very small to very large opacities, realised in small and large collision systems. Surpisingly, we find that deviations between kinetic theory and hydrodynamics persist even in the limit of very large interaction rates, which can be attributed to the presence of the early pre-equilibrium phase.