Elliptic flow of thermal photons at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV

Abstract

The elliptic flow $v_{2}$ of thermal photons at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV is predicted, based on three-dimensional ideal hydrodynamics. Because of the interplay between the asymmetry and the strength of the transverse flow, the thermal photon $v_{2}$ reaches a maximum at $\pt \sim $ 2GeV/$c$ and the $\pt$-integrated $v_{2}$ reaches a maximum at about 50% centrality. The $\pt$-integrated $v_{2}$ is very sensitive to the lower limit of the integral but not sensitive to the upper limit due to the rapid decrease in the spectrum of the transverse momentum.

4 pages, 2 figures - To appear in the conference proceedings for Quark Matter 2009, March 30 - April 4, Knoxville, Tennessee