Hydrodynamic flow at RHIC

Abstract

We review the apparently hydrodynamic behaviour of low transverse momentum particles (p_T < 1.5 GeV/c) produced in central and semicentral (b < 7 fm) heavy ion collisions at RHIC. We investigate the impact parameter dependence of various observables, elaborating on radial and elliptic flow and particle multiplicities. We also discuss possible ambiguities in the initialization of the hydrodynamic system and present observables that should allow for their resolution.

Comments: 10 pages, Proceedings of the 17th Winter Workshop on Nuclear Dynamics, Park City, Utah, 2001