  We present the first full (3+1)D dynamical simulations of ultra-peripheral
Pb+Pb collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. Extrapolating from p+Pb
collisions, we explore whether a quasi-real photon $\gamma^*$ interacting with
the lead nucleus in an ultra-peripheral collision can create a many-body system
exhibiting fluid behavior. Assuming strong final-state interactions, we provide
model results for charged hadron multiplicity, identified particle mean
transverse momenta, and charged hadron anisotropic flow coefficients, and
compare them with experimental data from the ALICE and ATLAS collaborations.
The elliptic flow hierarchy between p+Pb and $\gamma^*$+Pb collisions is
dominated by the difference in longitudinal flow decorrelations and reproduces
the experimental data well. We have demonstrated that our theoretical framework
provides a quantitative tool to study particle production and collectivity for
all system sizes, ranging from central heavy-ion collisions to small asymmetric
collision systems at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider and the Large Hadron
Collider and even at the future Electron-Ion Collider.
