A new method is presented for determining event-by-event fluctuations of elliptic flow, $v_2$, using first-order event planes. By studying the event-by-event distributions of $v_2$ observables and first-order event-plane observables, average flow $\avg{ v_2}$ and event-by-event flow fluctuations can be separately determined, making appropriate allowance for the effects of finite multiplicity and non-flow. The method has been tested with Monte Carlo simulations. The connection between flow fluctuations and fluctuations of the initial-state participant eccentricity is discussed.
Categories: nucl-ex