Multiplicities and transverse energies in central AA collisions at RHIC and LHC from pQCD, saturation and hydrodynamics

We compute the particle multiplicities and transverse energies at central and nearly central AA collisions at RHIC and LHC. The initial state is computed from perturbative QCD supplemented by the conjecture of saturation of produced partons. The expansion stage is described in terms of hydrodynamics assuming longitudinal boost invariance and azimuthal symmetry. Transverse flow effects, a realistic list of hadrons and resonance decays are included. Comparison with the data of the multiplicities at roots = 56 A GeV and 130 A GeV from RHIC is done and predictions for the full RMC energy and LHC energy are made for the multiplicities and transverse energies. The reduction from the initially released minijet transverse energy to the E-T in the final state is less than in the one-dimensional case but still dramatic: a factor of 2.7 at RHIC, and 3.6 at the LHC. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.