Transverse Momentum Correlations in Relativistic Nuclear Collisions

Abstract

From the correlation structure of transverse momentum $p_t$ in relativistic nuclear collisions we observe for the first time temperature/velocity structure resulting from low-$Q^2$ partons. Our novel analysis technique does not invoke an {\em a priori} jet hypothesis. $p_t$ autocorrelations derived from the scale dependence of $<p_t>$ fluctuations reveal a complex parton dissipation process in RHIC heavy ion collisions. We also observe structure which may result from collective bulk-medium recoil in response to parton stopping.

Comments: 10 pages, 10 figures, proceedings, MIT workshop on fluctuations and correlations in relativistic nuclear collisions