Anisotropic hydrodynamics: Three lectures

Abstract

Anisotropic hydrodynamics is a non-perturbative reorganization of relativistic hydrodynamics that takes into account the large momentum-space anisotropies generated in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions. As a result, it allows one to extend the regime of applicability of hydrodynamic treatments to situations that can be quite far from isotropic thermal equilibrium. In this paper, I review the material presented in a series of three introductory lectures. I review the derivation of ideal and second-order viscous hydrodynamics from kinetic theory. I then show how to extend the methods used to a system that can be highly anisotropic in local-rest-frame momenta. I close by discussing recent work on this topic and then present an outlook to the future.