High Energy Physics Seminars

The data obtained from RHIC experiments is reproduced pretty well by ideal hydrodynarnical models. However, the first corrections to perfect fluid behavior are also important in interpreting the data and are characterized by shear and bulk viscosities, I will explain the perturbative calculation of the bulk viscosity of high-temperature QCD using kinetic theory to leading order in the coupling constant. This fills a gap in the literature since even a parametric estimate of this quantity was absent prior to OUT work. Although it may not be justified to apply our results to the strongly coupled plasma produced at RHIC, we hope that they will at least provide the right order of magnitude.