Collective Flow signals the Quark Gluon Plasma

Abstract

A critical discussion of the present status of the CERN experiments on charm dynamics and hadron collective flow is given. We emphasize the importance of the flow excitation function from 1 to 50 A$\cdot$GeV: here the hydrodynamic model has predicted the collapse of the $v_1$-flow and of the $v_2$-flow at $\sim 10$ A$\cdot$GeV; at 40 A$\cdot$GeV it has been recently observed by the NA49 collaboration. Since hadronic rescattering models predict much larger flow than observed at this energy we interpret this observation as potential evidence for a first order phase transition at high baryon density $ρ_B$. A detailed discussion of the collective flow as a barometer for the equation of state (EoS) of hot dense matter at RHIC follows. Additionally, detailed transport studies show that the away-side jet suppression can only partially ($<$ 50%) be due to hadronic rescattering. We, finally, propose upgrades and second generation experiments at RHIC which inspect the first order phase transition in the fragmentation region, i.e. at $μ_B \approx 400$ MeV ($y \approx 4-5$), where the collapse of the proton flow should be seen in analogy to the 40 A$\cdot$GeV data. The study of Jet-Wake-riding potentials and Bow shocks -- caused by jets in the QGP formed at RHIC -- can give further information on the equation of state (EoS) and transport coefficients of the Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP).

19 pages, 22 figures, Proceedings for RBRC Workshop 'New Discoveries at RHIC - The Strongly Interactive QGP', BNL, NY, May 2004