Is hadronic flow produced in p–Pb collisions at the Large Hadron Collider?

Abstract

Using the Ultra-relativistic Quantum Molecular Dynamics (UrQMD) model, we investigate the azimuthal correlations in p-Pb collisions at √ s NN = 5.02 TeV. It is shown that the simulated hadronic p-Pb system can not generate the collective flow signatures, but mainly behaves as a non-flow dominant system. However, the characteristic v 2 (p T ) massordering of pions, kaons and protons is observed in UrQMD simulations, which is the consequence of hadronic interactions and not necessarily associated with strong fluid-like expansions.The relativistic heavy ion collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have provided strong evidences for the creation of the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP). One of the crucial observables is the azimuthal anisotropy of the transverse momentum distribution for produced hadrons