PHENIX results on elliptic and triangular flow from the small-system geometry scan at 200 GeV

Abstract

Using the extraordinary versatility of RHIC in selecting different colliding species, the PHENIX experiment has collected data in p+Al, p+Au, d+Au, and He-3+Au collisions at 200 GeV center-of-mass energy and conducted a comprehensive set of anisotropic flow measurements. These geometry-controlled experiments provide a unique testing ground for theoretical models that produce azimuthal particle correlations based on initial- and/or final-state effects. A complete set of triangular anisotropies of inclusive charged particles and final results on identified pion and proton v(2)(p(T)) are shown. The mass-ordered splitting in v(2)(p(T)) provides information about the role of early-stage collective flow and late-stage hadronic rescattering. Detailed model comparisons with all observables are discussed.