Event-shape fluctuations and flow correlations in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Abstract

I review recent measurements of a large set of flow observables associated with event-shape fluctuations and collective expansion in heavy ion collisions. First, these flow observables are classified and experiment methods are introduced. The experimental results for each type of observables are then presented and compared to theoretical calculations. A coherent picture of initial condition and collective flow based on linear and non-linear hydrodynamic responses is derived, which qualitatively describe most experimental results. I discuss new types of fluctuation measurements that can further our understanding of the event-shape fluctuations and collective expansion dynamics.Comment: 29 pages, 20 figures, invited review for J. Phys. G Focus Issue on "Collective flow and transport phenomena in heavy ion physics" Edited by Takeshi Kodama, Nu Xu and Horst Stoecke