Sensitivity of Heavy-Quark Dipolar Flow to its Initial Spatial Distributions in Cu+Au Collisions

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Autori principali: Panda, Ankit Kumar, Parida, Tribhuban
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2026
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author Panda, Ankit Kumar
Parida, Tribhuban
author_facet Panda, Ankit Kumar
Parida, Tribhuban
contents We investigate charm-quark dynamics in asymmetric Cu+Au collisions at top RHIC energy using a Langevin approach embedded in a realistic hydrodynamic background. The intrinsic asymmetry of the colliding nuclei leads to a spatially lopsided initial energy-density profile, which generates a dipolar flow structure in the transverse plane even at midrapidity. As charm quarks propagate through this medium, they acquire a finite directed flow, $v_1$. We find that the $p_T$-integrated heavy-quark $v_1$ is approximately an order of magnitude larger than that of charged hadrons. In addition, the $p_T$-differential $v_1$ exhibits strong sensitivity to the initial spatial distribution of heavy quarks, emphasizing the importance of pre-equilibrium dynamics in determining final-state anisotropies. Beyond geometric effects, $v_1$ also provides direct sensitivity to medium interactions through the temperature-dependent drag coefficient. Its pronounced dependence on this transport input indicates that precision measurements of heavy-flavor directed flow could place meaningful constraints on heavy-quark transport coefficients, thereby improving Langevin-based descriptions and predictive power for heavy-flavor observables in heavy-ion collisions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_26766
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Sensitivity of Heavy-Quark Dipolar Flow to its Initial Spatial Distributions in Cu+Au Collisions
Panda, Ankit Kumar
Parida, Tribhuban
Nuclear Theory
High Energy Physics - Experiment
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Nuclear Experiment
We investigate charm-quark dynamics in asymmetric Cu+Au collisions at top RHIC energy using a Langevin approach embedded in a realistic hydrodynamic background. The intrinsic asymmetry of the colliding nuclei leads to a spatially lopsided initial energy-density profile, which generates a dipolar flow structure in the transverse plane even at midrapidity. As charm quarks propagate through this medium, they acquire a finite directed flow, $v_1$. We find that the $p_T$-integrated heavy-quark $v_1$ is approximately an order of magnitude larger than that of charged hadrons. In addition, the $p_T$-differential $v_1$ exhibits strong sensitivity to the initial spatial distribution of heavy quarks, emphasizing the importance of pre-equilibrium dynamics in determining final-state anisotropies. Beyond geometric effects, $v_1$ also provides direct sensitivity to medium interactions through the temperature-dependent drag coefficient. Its pronounced dependence on this transport input indicates that precision measurements of heavy-flavor directed flow could place meaningful constraints on heavy-quark transport coefficients, thereby improving Langevin-based descriptions and predictive power for heavy-flavor observables in heavy-ion collisions.
title Sensitivity of Heavy-Quark Dipolar Flow to its Initial Spatial Distributions in Cu+Au Collisions
topic Nuclear Theory
High Energy Physics - Experiment
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Nuclear Experiment
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.26766