Fourier Coefficients of Asynchronous Collective Motions in Heavy-ion Collisions

Abstract

We present a novel scenario in heavy-ion collisions where different modes of collective motions evolve asynchronously in the created nuclear medium. Such physics mechanisms could each dominate at a distinct evolution stage, or coexist simultaneously without coordinating with each other. If we employ a separate single-harmonic Fourier expansion to describe how each asynchronous collective motion affects particle emission, the particle azimuthal distribution should be the product of all these expansions. Consequently, cross terms between collectivity modes appear, and their contributions to experimental observables could be significant. In particular, we argue that the chiral magnetic effect (CME) and elliptic flow can develop asynchronously, with their convolution affecting the observable that is sensitive to the shear-induced CME. We will use the event-by-event anomalous-viscous fluid dynamics model to illustrate the effects of this scenario. Besides giving new insights into searches for the CME, we also propose a feasible experimental test based on conventional flow harmonics