Nuclear cluster structure effect on elliptic and triangular flows in heavy-ion collisions

Abstract

The initial geometry effect on collective flows, which are inherited from initial projectile structure, is studied in relativistic heavy-ion collisions of $^{12}$C + Au by using a multi-phase transport model (AMPT). Elliptic flow ($v_2$) and triangular flow ($v_3$) which are significantly resulted from the chain and triangle structure of $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ with three-$\alpha$ clusters, respectively, in central $^{12}\mathrm{C}$+$^{197}\mathrm{Au}$ collisions are compared with the flow from the Woods-Saxon distribution of nucleons in $^{12}\mathrm{C}$. $v_3/v_2$ is proposed as a probe to distinguish the pattern of $\alpha$-clustered $^{12}\mathrm{C}$. This study demonstrates that the initial geometry of the collision zone inherited from nuclear structure can be explored by collective flow at the final stage in heavy-ion collisions.