Sensitivity of the transverse flow to the symmetry energy

Abstract

We study the sensitivity of transverse flow to symmetry energy in the Fermi energy region as well as at high energies. We find that transverse flow is sensitive to symmetry energy and its density dependence in the Fermi energy region. We also show that the transverse flow can address the symmetry energy at densities about twice the saturation density; however, it shows insensitivity to the symmetry energy at densities $\ensuremath{\rho}/{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}>2$. The mechanism for the sensitivity of transverse flow to symmetry energy and its density dependence is also discussed.