Hubble-like flows in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

We study the dynamical appearance of scaling solutions in relativistic hydrodynamics. The phase transition effects are included through the temperature dependent sound velocity. If a pre-equilibrium transverse flow is included in the initial conditions, then it may reach the form of the asymptotic Hubble flow, r/t, in short evolution times, 7-15 fm. The numerical solutions are found to support to the freeze-out models (Blast-Wave, Buda-Lund, Cracow).Comment: 4 pages, 6 Postscript figures, uses hiph-preprint.sty, contribution to the Quark Matter 2005 poster proceedings. Minor stylistic correction

Initial condition for hydrodynamics, partonic free streaming, and the uniform description of soft observables at RHIC

We investigate the role of the initial condition used for the hydrodynamic evolution of the system formed in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions and find that an appropriate choice motivated by the models of early-stage dynamics, specifically a simple two-dimensional Gaussian profile, leads to a uniform description of soft observables measured in the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC). In particular, the transverse-momentum spectra, the elliptic-flow, and the Hanbury-Brown--Twiss correlation radii, including the ratio R_out/R_side as well as the dependence of the radii on the azimuthal angle (azHBT), are properly described. We use the perfect-fluid hydrodynamics with a realistic equation of state based on lattice calculations and the hadronic gas at high and low temperatures, respectively. We also show that the inclusion of the partonic free-streaming in the early stage allows to delay the start of the hydrodynamical description to comfortable times of the order of 1 fm/c. Free streaming broadens the initial energy-density profile, but generates the initial transverse and elliptic flow. The data may be described equally well when the hydrodynamics is started early, or with a delay due to partonic free-streaming.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Particle Identification in the ALICE Experiment

The particle identification capabilities of the ALICE experiment are unique among the four major LHC experiments. The working principles and excellent performance of the central barrel detectors in a high-multiplicity environment are presented as well as two physics examples: the extraction of transverse momentum spectra of charged pions, kaons, protons, and the observation of the anti-4He-nucleus.Comment: Quark Matter 2011 Proceeding

Describing transverse dynamics and space-time evolution at RHIC in a hydrodynamic model with statistical hadronization

A hydrodynamic model coupled to the statistical hadronization code Therminator is used to study a set of observables in the soft sector at RHIC. A satisfactory description of the pT-spectra and elliptic flow is obtained, similarly to other hydrodynamic models. With the Gaussian initial conditions the transverse femtoscopic radii are also reproduced, providing a possible solution of the RHIC HBT puzzle.Comment: to appear in the conference proceedings for Quark Matter 2009, March 30 - April 4, Knoxville, Tennesse

Early dynamics of transversally thermalized matter

We argue that the idea that the parton system created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions is formed in a state with transverse momenta close to thermodynamic equilibrium and its subsequent dynamics at early times is dominated by pure transverse hydrodynamics of the perfect fluid is compatible with the data collected at RHIC. This scenario of early parton dynamics may help to solve the problem of early equilibration.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, Talk given by M. Chojnacki at Quark Matter 2008, Jaipur, Indi

Measurement of π\pi, K, p transverse momentum spectra with ALICE in proton-proton collisions at s=\sqrt{s} = 0.9 and 7 TeV

Results of the measurement of the $\pi$, K, p transverse momentum ($p_{\mathrm{t}}$) spectra at mid-rapidity in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV are presented. Particle identification was performed using the energy loss signal in the Inner Tracking System (ITS) and the Time Projection Chamber (TPC), while information from the Time-of-Flight (TOF) detector was used to identify particles at higher transverse momentum. From the spectra at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV the mean transverse momentum ($$) and particle ratios were extracted and compared to results obtained for collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 0.9$ TeV and lower energies.Comment: Quark Matter 2011 proceeding

Hydrodynamics and perfect fluids: uniform description of soft observables in Au+Au collisions at RHIC

It is argued that the use of the initial Gaussian energy density profile for hydrodynamics leads to much better uniform description of the RHIC heavy-ion data than the use of the standard initial condition obtained from the Glauber model. With the modified Gaussian initial conditions we successfully reproduce the transverse-momentum spectra, v2, and the pionic HBT radii (including their azimuthal dependence). The emerging consistent picture of hadron production hints that a solution of the long standing RHIC HBT puzzle has been found.Comment: Talk presented by WF at the XXXVIII International Symposium on Multiparticle Physic

Early anisotropic hydrodynamics and the RHIC early-thermalization and HBT puzzles

We address the problem if the early thermalization and HBT puzzles in relativistic heavy-ion collisions may be solved by the assumption that the early dynamics of the produced matter is locally anisotropic. The hybrid model describing the purely transverse hydrodynamic evolution followed by the perfect-fluid hydrodynamic stage is constructed. The transition from the transverse to perfect-fluid hydrodynamics is described by the Landau matching conditions applied at a fixed proper time. The global fit to the RHIC data reproduces the soft hadronic observables (the pion, kaon, and the proton spectra, the pion and kaon elliptic flow, and the pion HBT radii) with the accuracy of about 20%. These results indicate that the assumption of the very fast thermalization may be relaxed. In addition, the presented model suggests that a large part of the inconsistencies between the theoretical and experimental HBT results may be removed.Comment: replaced with the version published in Phys.Rev.C 8

Instability of Boost-invariant hydrodynamics with a QCD inspired bulk viscosity

We solve the relativistic Navier-Stokes equations with homogeneous boost-invariant boundary conditions, and perform a stability analysis of the solution. We show that, if the bulk viscosity has a peak around $T_c$ as inferred from QCD-based arguments, the background solution "freezes" at $T_c$ to a nearly constant temperature state. This state is however highly unstable with respect to certain inhomogeneous modes. Calculations show that these modes have enough time to blow up and tear the system into droplets. We conjecture that this is how freeze-out occurs in the QGP created in heavy ion collisions, and perhaps similar transitions in the early universe.Comment: Accepted for publication, Rapid Communication in Physical Review C Discussion extended, derivation and conclusions not change