Heavy quark dynamics within a Boltzmann transport model: radiative vs collisional energy loss

We discuss the propagation of heavy quarks (charm and bottom) through the QGP by means of a relativistic Boltzmann transport approach including both collisional and radiative energy loss mechanisms. In particular we investigate the impact of induced gluon radiation by dynamical QCD medium implementing in our transport model a formula for the emitted gluon spectrum calculated in a higher-twist scheme. We notice that in the region of high transverse momentum ( p_T > 10 GeV) radiative processes play an essential role giving a dominant contribution to the generation of R_AA and v ₂ at momentum values for which the energy loss by collisions is in the perturbative regime. (paper)