Fluctuating initial conditions and fluctuations in elliptic and triangular flow

Abstract

In heavy ion collisions, event-by-event fluctuations in participating nucleon positions can lead to triangular flow. With fluctuating initial conditions, flow coefficients will also fluctuate. In a hydrodynamic model, we study the fluctuations in elliptic and triangular flow, due to fluctuating initial conditions. Both elliptic and triangular flow fluctuates strongly, triangular flow more strongly than the elliptic flow. Strong fluctuations greatly reduce the sensitivity of elliptic and triangular flow to viscosity.