Nonlinear collective flow reveals the breakdown of quadrupole--hexadecapole scaling in heavy ion collisions

Hadi Mehrabpour, Zahra Sheibani, Li Yan +2

Determining the role of intrinsic hexadecapole deformation (${\hat{I}}_4^2$) in nuclear structure remains a long-standing challenge. Relativistic heavy-ion collisions provide a unique oppor…