Harmonic decomposition of three-particle azimuthal correlations at RHIC


Abstract in English

We present measurements of three-particle correlations for various harmonics in Au+Au collisions at energies ranging from $sqrt{s_{{rm NN}}}=7.7$ to 200 GeV using the STAR detector. The quantity $langlecos(mphi_1+nphi_2-(m+n)phi_3)rangle$ is evaluated as a function of $sqrt{s_{{rm NN}}}$, collision centrality, transverse momentum, $p_T$, pseudo-rapidity difference, $Deltaeta$, and harmonics ($m$ and $n$). These data provide detailed information on global event properties like the three-dimensional structure of the initial overlap region, the expansion dynamics of the matter produced in the collisions, and the transport properties of the medium. A strong dependence on $Deltaeta$ is observed for most harmonic combinations consistent with breaking of longitudinal boost invariance. Data reveal changes with energy in the two-particle correlation functions relative to the second-harmonic event-plane and provide ways to constrain models of heavy-ion collisions over a wide range of collision energies.

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