Direct photon spectra and azimuthal anisotropy

The transverse momentum distribution and azimuthal anisotropy of direct photon production in Au+Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV were measured in the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. Through the external conversion method, earlier yield and v2 measurements were extended down to pT = 0.4 GeV/c. For the first time the third order Fourier coefficient, v3 was measured. The yield shows a large, exponential excess above prompt photon production. v2 is consistent with that of hadrons at low pT. v3 is about 50% the size of v2. Current models cannot describe simultaneously the large observed yield and azimuthal anisotropy.