Probing collectivity in heavy-ion collisions with fluctuations of the $p_T$ spectrum

TL;DR

This paper introduces and studies a new observable, $v_0(p_T)$, which measures the impact of initial fluctuations on the $p_T$ spectrum in heavy-ion collisions, providing insights into collective behavior.

Contribution

The paper presents the first quantitative predictions for $v_0(p_T)$ using hydrodynamic simulations and relates it to observed transverse momentum fluctuations.

Findings

$v_0(p_T)$ can be measured and predicts the $p_T$ dependence of fluctuations.

Quantitative explanation of the rise in $\sigma_{p_T}$ with higher $p_T$ cuts.

$v_0(p_T)$ links initial fluctuations to final-state observables.

Abstract

Event-by-event fluctuations in the initial stages of ultrarelativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions depend little on rapidity. The hydrodynamic expansion which occurs in later stages then gives rise to correlations among outgoing particles which depend weakly on their relative rapidity. Azimuthal correlations, through which anisotropic flow ($v_n(p_T)$) is defined, have been the most studied. Here we study a new observable introduced in 2020 by Schenke, Shen and Teaney and dubbed $v_0(p_T)$, which quantifies the relative change in the $p_T$ spectrum induced by a fluctuation. We describe how it can be measured. Using hydrodynamic simulations, we make quantitative predictions for $v_0(p_T)$ of charged and identified hadrons. We then discuss how $v_0(p_T)$ relates to two phenomena which have been measured: The increase of the mean transverse momentum in ultracentral collisions, and the event-by-event fluctuations of the transverse momentum per particle $[ p_T]$. We show that $v_0(p_T)$ determines the dependence of these quantities on the $p_T$ cuts implemented in the analysis. We quantitatively explain the rise of $\sigma_{p_T}$ observed by ATLAS as the upper $p_T$-cut is increased from $2$ to $5$~GeV/$c$.