The initial state of ultra-relativistic heavy ion collision

Abstract

A model for energy, pressure and flow velocity distributions at the beginning of ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions is presented, which can be used as an initial condition for hydrodynamic calculations. Our model takes into account baryon recoil for both target and projectile, arising from the acceleration of partons in an effective field, produced in the collision. The typical field strength (string tension) for RHIC energies is about 5-12 GeV/fm, what allows us to talk about "string ropes". The results show that a QGP forms a tilted disk, such that the direction of the largest pressure gradient stays in the reaction plane, but deviates from both the beam and the usual transverse flow directions. Such initial conditions may lead to the creation of "antiflow" or "third flow component".

28 pages, 9 figures. The presentation has been changed considerably. Some parts of the model have been reformulated, what led to modifications in several equations: (20-38), Apps. A, B. All the figures have been changed from 100 GeV/nucl initial energy to the achieved RHIC energy of 65 GeV/nucl. The last subplots in the Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 present E=T^{00} in the laboratory frame now, instead of the energy density in the local rest frame, e, shown in the initial version. We also added the App. C to clarify the transformation from space-time to lightcone coordinates and back