Subdiffusion of heavy quarks in hot QCD matter by the fractional Langevin equation

Abstract

The subdiffusion phenomena are studied for heavy quarks dynamics in the hot QCD matter. Our approach aims to provide a more realistic description of heavy quark dynamics through detailed theoretical analyses and numerical simulations, utilizing the fractional Langevin equation framework with the Caputo fractional derivative. I present numerical schemes for the fractional Langevin equation for subdiffusion and calculate the time evolution mean squared displacement and mean squared momentum of the heavy quarks. My results indicate that the mean squared displacements of the heavy quarks for the subdiffusion process deviate from a linear relationship with time. Further, I calculate the normalized momentum correlation function, kinetic energy, and momentum spread. Finally, I show the effect of subdiffusion on experimental observables, the nuclear modification factor. Published by the American Physical Society 2024