Domain Wall Dynamics of Phase Interfaces

The statics and dynamics of a surface separating two phases of a relativistic quantum field theory at or near the critical temperature typically make use of a free energy as a functional of an order parameter. This free energy functional also affords an economical description of states away from equilibrium. The similarities and differences between using a scalar field as the order parameter versus the energy density are examined, and a peculiarity is noted. We also point out several conceptual errors in the literature dealing with the dynamical prefactor in the nucleation rate.Comment: 12 pages plus 5 figure

QGP flow fluctuations and the characteristics of higher moments

The dynamical development of expanding Quark-gluon Plasma (QGP) flow is studied in a 3+1D fluid dynamical model with a globally symmetric, initial condition. We minimize fluctuations arising from complex dynamical processes at finite impact parameters and from fluctuating random initial conditions to have a conservative fluid dynamical background estimate for the statistical distributions of the thermodynamical parameters. We also avoid a phase transition in the equation of state, and we let the matter supercool during the expansion. Then central Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 2.76$ TeV are studied in an almost perfect fluid dynamical model, with azimuthally symmetric initial state generated in a dynamical flux-tube model. The general development of thermodynamical extensives are also shown for lower energies. We observe considerable deviations from a thermal equilibrium source as a consequence of the fluid dynamical expansion arising from a least fluctuating initial state

Nucleation Rate of Hadron Bubbles in Baryon-Free Quark-Gluon Plasma

We evaluate the factor $\kappa$ appearing in Langer's expression for the nucleation rate extended to the case of hadron bubbles forming in zero baryon number cooled quark-gluon plasma. We consider both the absence and presence of viscosity and show that viscous effects introduce only small changes in the value of $\kappa$Comment: 9 pages, revtex, no figures Full postscript version available at via the WWW at http://nucth.physics.wisc.edu/preprints/ or by via from ftp://nucth.physics.wisc.edu/pub/preprints/mad-nt-95-06.p

Elliptic flow and shear viscosity from a beam energy scan

We study within a relativistic transport approach the impact of a temperature dependent shear viscosity to entropy density ratio, η/s(T), on the build-up of the elliptic flow, v2, a measure of the angular anisotropy in the particle production. Beam Energy Scan from √sNN = 62.4GeV at RHIC up to 2.76TeV at LHC has shown that the v2(pT ) as a function of the transverse momentum pT appears to be nearly invariant with energy. We show that such a surprising behavior is determined by a rise and fall of η/s(T) with a minimum at T ∼ Tc, as one would expect if the matter undergoes a phase transition or a cross-over

Can supercooling explain the HBT puzzle?

Possible hadronization of supercooled QGP, created in heavy ion collisions at RHIC and SPS, is discussed within a Bjorken hydrodynamic model. Such a hadronization is expected to be a very fast shock-like process, what, if hadronization coincides or shortly followed by freeze out, could explain a part of the HBT puzzle, i.e. the flash-like particle emission ($R_{out}/R_{side}\approx 1$). HBT data also show that the expansion time before freeze out is very short ($\sim 6-10 fm/c$). In this work we discuss question of supercooled QGP and the timescale of the reaction.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

Freeze-out in hydrodynamical models in relativistic heavy ion collisions

Freeze-out of particles across 3-dimensional space-time hypersurface with space-like normal is discussed in a simple kinetic model. The final momentum distribution of emitted particles shows a non-exponential transverse momentum spectrum, which is in quantitative agreement with recently measured SPS pion and $h^-$ spectra.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. Quark Matter'99 Proceeding

Third flow component as QGP signal

A review of earlier fluid dynamical calculations with QGP show a softening of the directed flow while with hadronic matter this effect is absent. The effect shows up in the reaction plane as enhanced emission which is orthogonal to the directed flow. Thus, it is not shadowed by the deflected projectile and target. As both of these flow components are in the reaction plane these form an enhanced 'elliptic flow' pattern. Recent experimental data at 11 AGeV and above show the same softening, hinting at QGP formation.Comment: 12 pages, Latex, and 3 figures (.eps), 2 style files (.sty

Statistical Hadronization of Supercooled Quark-Gluon Plasma

The fast simultaneous hadronization and chemical freeze out of supercooled quark-gluon plasma, created in relativistic heavy ion collisions, leads to the re-heating of the expanding matter and to the change in a collective flow profile. We use the assumption of statistical nature of the hadronization process, and study quantitatively the freeze out in the framework of hydrodynamical Bjorken model with different quark-gluon plasma equations of state.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Large ptp_t enhancement from freeze out

Freeze out of particles across three dimensional space-time hypersurface is discussed in a simple kinetic model. The final momentum distribution of emitted particles, for freeze out surfaces with space-like normal, shows a non-exponential transverse momentum spectrum. The slope parameter of the $p_t$ distribution increases with increasing $p_t$, in agreement with recently measured SPS pion and $h^-$ spectra.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure. Accepted for publication in Physics Letters