Elliptic flow and incomplete equilibration at RHIC

Abstract We argue that RHIC data, in particular those on the anisotropic flow coefficients v 2 and v 4 , suggest that the matter produced in the early stages of nucleus–nucleus collisions is incompletely thermalized. We interpret the parameter ( 1 / S ) ( d N / d y ) , where S is the transverse area of the collision zone and d N / d y the multiplicity density, as an indicator of the number of collisions per particle at the time when elliptic flow is established, and hence as a measure of the degree of equilibration. This number serves as a control parameter which can be varied experimentally by changing the system size, the centrality or the beam energy. We provide predictions for Cu–Cu collisions at RHIC as well as for Pb–Pb collisions at the LHC.