Elliptic flow of thermal photons and formation time of quark gluon plasma at RHIC

Abstract

We calculate the elliptic flow of thermal photons from Au+Au collisions at RHIC energies for a range of values for the formation time $τ_0$ but fixed entropy (or particle rapidity density). The results are found to be quite sensitive to $τ_0$. The $v_2$ for photons decreases as $τ_0$ decreases and admits a larger contribution from the QGP phase which has a smaller $v_2$. The elliptic flow coefficient for hadrons, on the other hand, is only marginally dependent on $τ_0$.

2 extra figures and discussion added. To appear in Physical Review C (Rapid Communication)