We present inclusive charged hadron elliptic flow ($v_2$) measured over the pseudorapidity range $\left|\eta \right|<0.35$ in $\mathrm{Au}+\mathrm{Au}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathit{NN}}}=200$ GeV. Results for $v_2$ are presented over a broad range of transverse momentum $(p_T=0.2\text{−}8.0$ GeV/$c$) and centrality (0–60%). To study nonflow effects that are correlations other than collective flow, as well as the fluctuations of $v_2$, we compare two different analysis methods: (1) the event-plane method from two independent subdetectors at forward ($\left|\eta \right|=3.1\text{−}3.9$) and beam ($\left|\eta \right|>6.5$) pseudorapidities and (2) the two-particle cumulant method extracted using correlations between particles detected at midrapidity. The two event-plane results are consistent within systematic uncertainties over the measured $p_T$ and in centrality 0–40%. There is at most a 20% difference in the $v_2$ between the two event-plane methods in peripheral (40–60%) collisions. The comparisons between the two-particle cumulant results and the standard event-plane measurements are discussed.

• Received 9 May 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.80.024909