Opacity dependence of transverse flow, preequilibrium, and applicability of hydrodynamics in heavy-ion collisions

We evaluate the full opacity dependence of collective flow in high-energy heavy-ion collisions within a microscopic kinetic description based on the Boltzmann equation in the conformal relaxation time approximation. By comparing kinetic theory calculations to hydrodynamic and hybrid simulations for an average initial state, we point out shortcomings and inaccuracies of hydrodynamic models and present modified simulation setups to improve them.

Automated summary

This study focuses on evaluating the dependence of collective flow on the full opacity in high-energy heavy-ion collisions using a microscopic kinetic description. By comparing kinetic theory calculations to hydrodynamic and hybrid simulations for an average initial state, the shortcomings and inaccuracies of hydrodynamic models are identified, and modified simulation setups are presented for improvement.