Relative flow fluctuations as a probe of initial state fluctuations

Abstract

Elliptic flow, $v_2$, and triangular flow, $v_3$, are to a good approximation linearly proportional to the corresponding spatial anisotropies of the initial density profile, ${\epsilon }_2$ and ${\epsilon }_3$. Using event-by-event hydrodynamic simulations, we point out when deviations from this linear scaling are to be expected. When these deviations are negligible, relative $v_n$ fluctuations are equal to relative ${\epsilon }_n$ fluctuations, and one can directly probe models of initial conditions using ratios of cumulants, for instance $v_n\{4\}/v_n\{2\}$. We argue that existing models of initial conditions tend to overestimate flow fluctuations in central Pb+Pb collisions, and to underestimate them in peripheral collisions. We make predictions for $v_3\{6\}$ in noncentral Pb+Pb collisions, and for $v_3\{4\}$ and $v_3\{6\}$ in high-multiplicity p+Pb collisions.

Comments: v1: 10 pages, 7 figures. v2: published version. Added predictions of rcBK model in Fig.2. Data tables available in ancillary files