Methods for analyzing anisotropic flow in relativistic nuclear collisions

Abstract

The strategy and techniques for analyzing anisotropic flow (directed, elliptic, etc.) in relativistic nuclear collisions are presented. The emphasis is on the use of the Fourier expansion of azimuthal distributions. We present formulas relevant for this approach, and in particular, show how the event multiplicity enters into the event plane resolution. We also discuss the role of nonflow correlations and a method for introducing flow into a simulation.