REAL RELATIVISTIC FLUIDS IN HEAVY ION COLLISIONS

The theory of real relativistic fluids is in the rather unique situation that there is a natural relativistic extension of the nonrelativistic theory, but it is physically untenable [1]. On the other hand, mounting evidence that matter created in relativistic heavy ion collisions behaves as a relativistic fluid with small but finite viscosity has given the quest for an alternative a definite goal [2]. We shall review different approaches to relativistic real fluids, their link to relativistic kinetic theory, and their application to the analysis of heavy ion collisions [3].