Eccentricity fluctuations and its possible effect on elliptic flow measurements

TL;DR

This paper investigates how fluctuations in spatial eccentricity during heavy-ion collisions can influence elliptic flow measurements, which are key indicators of quark-gluon plasma formation.

Contribution

It provides a Monte Carlo Glauber model analysis to estimate the impact of eccentricity fluctuations on elliptic flow determination.

Findings

Eccentricity fluctuations can significantly affect elliptic flow measurements.

Spatial eccentricity fluctuations need to be considered for accurate flow analysis.

Results suggest potential revisions to flow interpretation in RHIC experiments.

Abstract

The elliptic flow measured at RHIC has been interpreted as a signature for strong partonic interactions early in the collision and as an indication of a well developed quark-gluon plasma phase. The measured values of elliptic flow, using methods based on multi-particle correlations, are affected by fluctuations in the magnitude of the elliptic flow. In this Letter, using a Monte Carlo Glauber calculation, we estimate what the possible effect of spatial eccentricity fluctuations is on the determination of elliptic flow.