Elliptic Flow: A Study of Space-Momentum Correlations In Relativistic Nuclear Collisions

Abstract

Here I review measurements of v2, the second component in a Fourier decomposition of the azimuthal dependence of particle production relative to the reaction plane in heavy-ion collisions. v2 is an observable central to the interpretation of the subsequent expansion of heavy-ion collisions. Its large value indicates significant space-momentum correlations, consistent with the rapid expansion of a strongly interacting Quark Gluon Plasma. Data is reviewed for collision energies from sqrt[sNN] = 2 to 200 GeV. Scaling observations and comparisons to hydrodynamic models are discussed.