https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202429604008
Exact polarization of particles of any spin at global equilibrium
Center for Nuclear Theory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794–3800, USA
* e-mail: andrea.palermo@stonybrook.edu
Published online: 26 June 2024
The polarization of the Λ particle offers the unique opportunity to study the hydrodynamic gradients in the Quark-Gluon Plasma formed in heavyion collisions. However, the theoretical formula commonly used to calculate polarization is only a linear order expansion in thermal vorticity and neglects higher-order corrections. Here, I present an exact calculation to all orders in (constant) thermal vorticity at global equilibrium, obtaining the analytic form of the spin density matrix and the polarization vector for massive particles of any spin. Finally, I extend these results to local equilibrium and assess their phenomenological impact by numerically calculating the polarization vector in a 3+1 hydrodynamic simulation.
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2024
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
