Anisotropic flow in Xe–Xe collisions at sNN=5.44 TeV

The first measurements of anisotropic flow coefficients v(n) for mid-rapidity charged particles in Xe-Xe collisions at root s(NN)=5.44TeV are presented. Comparing these measurements to those from Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=5.02 TeV, v(2) is found to be suppressed for mid-central collisions at the same centrality, and enhanced for central collisions. The values of v(3) are generally larger in Xe-Xe than in Pb-Pb at a given centrality. These observations are consistent with expectations from hydrodynamic predictions. When both v(2) and v(3) are divided by their corresponding eccentricities for a variety of initial state models, they generally scale with transverse density when comparing Xe-Xe and Pb-Pb, with some deviations observed in central Xe-Xe and Pb-Pb collisions. These results assist in placing strong constraints on both the initial state geometry and medium response for relativistic heavy-ion collisions. (c) 2018 European Organization for Nuclear Research. Published by Elsevier B.V.