Initial eccentricity fluctuations and their relation to higher-order flow harmonics

Abstract

Monte Carlo simulations are used to compute the centrality dependence of the participant eccentricities (${\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}_{n}$) in $\mathrm{Au}+\mathrm{Au}$ collisions for the two primary models currently employed for eccentricity estimates---the Glauber and the factorized Kharzeev-Levin-Nardi (fKLN) models. They suggest specific testable predictions for the magnitude and centrality dependence of the flow coefficients ${v}_{n}$, respectively measured relative to the event planes ${\ensuremath{\Psi}}_{n}$. They also indicate that the ratios of several of these coefficients may provide an additional constraint for distinguishing between the models. Such a constraint could be important for a more precise determination of the specific viscosity of the matter produced in heavy ion collisions.