Strong Coupling Isotropization of Non-Abelian Plasmas Simplified

We study the isotropization of a homogeneous, strongly coupled, non-Abelian plasma by means of its gravity dual. We compare the time evolution of a large number of initially anisotropic states as determined, on the one hand, by the full nonlinear Einstein's equations and, on the other, by the Einstein's equations linearized around the final equilibrium state. The linear approximation works remarkably well even for states that exhibit large anisotropies. For example, it predicts with a 20% accuracy the isotropization time, which is of the order of t(iso) less than or similar to 1/T, with T the final equilibrium temperature. We comment on possible extensions to less symmetric situations.

Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education [N202 173539]

Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education

Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter, Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research

Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter, Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research

MEC [FPA2010-20807-C02-01, FPA2010-20807-C02-02]

MEC

CPAN [CSD2007-00042]

CPAN

CNPq

CNPq

[2009-SGR-168]