Measurement of identified π⁰ and inclusive photon second-harmonic parameter V₂ and implications for direct photon production in √s_NN=200 GeV Au+Au

Abstract

The azimuthal distribution of identified π⁰ and inclusive photons has been measured in √s_NN=200 GeV Au+Au collisions with the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC). The second-harmonic parameter (v₂) was measured to describe the observed anisotropy of the azimuthal distribution. The measured inclusive photon v₂ is consistent with the value expected for the photons from hadron decay and is also consistent with the lack of direct photon signal over the measured p_T range 1-6 GeV/c. An attempt is made to extract v₂ of direct photons.