A rapidity gap trigger for the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider LHC is presented and a few selected physics observables are discussed. First, some properties of double pomeron events are outlined. Second, signatures of the odderon in diffractive J/Psi production is discussed. Third, possible evidence of gluon saturation in the cross section of diffractive heavy quark photoproduction is investigated.
We use a Monte Carlo implementation of recently developped models of double diffractive Higgs production to assess the sensitivity of the LHC experiments.
We discuss the different models of central diffractive production of the Higgs boson at the Tevatron and the LHC. We also describe how the models can be tested using diffractive production data being taken at the Tevatron. We finally discuss the advantages of using diffractive events to reconstruct the mass of the Higgs boson especially at the LHC.
The charged particle multiplicity distribution in high energy hadronic and nuclear collisions receive contribution from both diffractive and non diffractive processes. It is experimentally challenging to segregate diffractive events from non-diffractive events. The present work aims to separate and extract the charged particle multiplicity distribution of diffractive and non-diffractive events in hadronic collisions at LHC energies. A data driven model using the topic modelling statistical tool, DEMIX, has been used to demonstrate the proof of concept for p p collisions at 7 TeV generated by P…
We use diffractive parton distributions obtained from fits to the diffractive structure function measured at HERA to predict cross sections for single diffractive Higgs production at the LHC. The dominant background processes are also considered. Although some 5% - 15% of Higgs events are predicted to be diffractive in this model, the ratio of signal to background is not significantly improved.
Diffractive processes possible to be measured at the LHC are listed and briefly discussed. This includes soft (elastic scattering, exclusive meson pair production, diffractive bremsstrahlung) and hard (single and double Pomeron exchange jets, $γ$+jet, W/Z, jet-gap-jet, exclusive jets) processes as well as Beyond Stanrad Model phenomena (anomalous gauge couplings, magnetic monopoles).
A model based on Gribov's Regge calculus was developed [1] and was proposed to describe diffractive processes. In this note we present numerical vales obtained from [1] for the dependence of single diffraction cross-section on diffractive mass at $\sqrt{s}$ = 0.9, 2.76 and 7 TeV.
We consider diffractive processes which can be measured at the LHC. Analysis of diffractive events will give unique information about the high energy asymptotics of hadron scattering. In semihard diffraction one may study the partonic structure of the Pomeron. Central Exclusive Diffractive production provides a possibility to investigate the new particles (Higgs bosons, SUSY particles,...) in an exceptionally clean environment.
We analyse diffractive electroweak vector boson production in hadronic collisions and show that the single diffractive W boson production asymmetry in rapidity is a particularly good observable at the LHC to test the concept of the flavour symmetric pomeron parton distributions. It may also provide an additional constraint for the parton distribution functions in the proton.
Improved possibilities to find the Higgs boson in diffractive events, having less hadronic activity, depend on whether the cross section is large enough. Based on the soft color interaction models that successfully describe diffractive hard scattering at HERA and the Tevatron, we find that only a few diffractive Higgs events may be produced at the Tevatron, but we predict a substantial rate at the LHC.
We use the POMWIG Monte Carlo generator to predict the cross-sections for double diffractive higgs and di-photon production at the Tevatron and LHC. We find that the higgs production cross-section is too small to be observable at Tevatron energies, and even at the LHC observation would be difficult. Double diffractive di-photon production, however, should be observable within one year of Tevatron Run II.
Predictions for the total, elastic and single diffractive cross sections calculated for the LHC in the framework of the Miettinen-Pumplin model are presented. The total cross section is expected to be 15% smaller than that determined by Donnachie and Landshoff in the model with soft pomeron. The diffractive cross section is almost constant in the Tevatron-LHC energy range.
Exclusive double diffractive (EDD) Higgs boson production is analyzed in the framework of the Regge-eikonal approach. Total and differential cross-sections for the process $p+p\to p+H+p$ are calculated. Experimental possibilities to find Higgs boson at LHC are discussed.
Exclusive double diffractive events (EDDE) are considered in the framework of the Regge-eikonal approach and perturbative calculations for "hard" subprocesses. Total and differential cross-sections for processes $p+p\to p+X+p$ are calculated.
We present predictions for single-diffractive low-mass Drell-Yan pair production in $pp$ collisions at the LHC at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV. Predictions are obtained adopting a factorised form for the relevant cross sections and are based on a new set of diffractive parton distributions resulting from the QCD analysis of combined HERA leading proton data. We discuss a number of observables useful to characterise the expected factorisation breaking effects.
We analyse diffractive weak boson production in $pp$ collisions. We show that the measurement of $W$ boson production asymmetry in the diffractive $pp$ collisions is a valuable method to test the concept of the flavour symmetric pomeron parton distributions.
We estimate the inclusive double diffractive production of SUSY particles at the LHC using a modified version of the POMWIG Monte Carlo event generator. The diffractive events are produced via the Ingelman-Schlein model for double pomeron exchange. The MSSM parameter space is scanned using the ``Snowmass benchmark points'' and it is shown that the lightest Higgs boson is the only SUSY particle with a large enough rate to be detected using these diffractive events.
We propose a new set of measurements which can be performed at the LHC using roman pot detectors. This new method is based on exploiting excitation curves to measure kinematical properties of produced particles. We illustrate it in the case of central diffractive W pair production.
We study hard diffractive scattering in hadron-hadron collisions including, on top of the standard Pomeron-initiated processes, contributions due to the exchange of Reggeons. Using a simple model to describe the parton content of the Reggeon, we compute di-jet production in single diffractive and central diffractive events. We show that Reggeon contributions can be sizable at the LHC, and even sometimes dominant, and we identify kinematic windows in which they could be experimentally studied. We argue that suitable measurements must be performed in order to properly constrain the model, and be…
We present an estimate of survival probability from an eikonal mini- jet model implemented with a proposal for soft gluon resummation to all orders. We compare it with experimental data for diffractive di-jet production from LHC experiments, CMS and ATLAS, both at LO and NLO order.
We compute the rate for diffractive upsilon meson production at the Tevatron and the LHC. The upsilon is produced diffractively via the subprocess gamma + p -> upsilon + p where the initial photon is radiated off an incoming proton (or antiproton). We consider the possibility to use low angle proton detectors to make a measurement of the gamma p cross-section and conclude that a measurement of the cross-section at a centre of mass energy in excess of 1 TeV is possible at the LHC. This is in the region where saturation effects are likely to reveal themselves.
The single diffractive cross section for heavy quarks production is calculated in next-no-leading order (NLO) in nucleus-nucleus collisions. Such processes are expected to occur at the LHC. We start using the hard diffractive factorization formalism, taking into account the recent experimental parameterization for the Pomeron Structure Function (DPDF). Absorptive corrections are accounted by the multiple Pomeron contributions considering a gap survival probability, where its theoretical uncertainty for nuclear collisions is discussed. We estimate the diffractive ratios for single diffraction p…
We give detailed predictions for diffractive SUSY Higgs boson and top squark associated productions at the LHC via the exclusive double pomeron exchange mechanism. We study how the SUSY Higgs cross section and the signal over background ratio are enhanced as a function of tangent beta in different regimes. The prospects are particularly promising in the ``anti-decoupling'' regime, which we study in detail. We also give the prospects for a precise measurement of the top squark mass using the threshold scan of central diffractive associated top squark events at the LHC.
In this paper we study the inclusive and diffractive double quarkonium production. Based on the nonrelativistic QCD (NRQCD) factorization formalism for the quarkonium production mechanism we estimate the rapidity and transverse momentum dependence of the cross section for the $J/ΨJ/Ψ$ and $ΥΥ$ production in diffractive processes at LHC energies. The contributions of the color-singlet and color-octet channels are estimated and predictions for the total cross sections in the kinematical regions of the LHC experiments are also presented. Our results demonstrate that the contribution of diffractiv…
The single and central diffractive production of the Standard Model Higgs boson is computed using the diffractive factorization formalism, taking into account a parametrization for the Pomeron structure function provided by the H1 Collaboration. We compute the cross sections at NLO accuracy for the gluon fusion process, since it is the leading mechanism for the Higgs boson production. The gap survival probability is also introduced to include the rescattering corrections due to spectator particles present in the interaction. The diffractive ratios are predicted for proton-proton collisions at …
Two theoretical descriptions of exclusive diffractive jets and Higgs production at the LHC were implemented into the FPMC generator: the Khoze, Martin, Ryskin model and the Cudell, Hernández, Ivanov, Dechambre exclusive model. We then study the uncertainties. We compare their predictions to the CDF measurement and discuss the possibility of constraining the exclusive Higgs production at the LHC with early measurements of exclusive jets. We show that the present theoretical uncertainties can be reduced with such data by a factor of 5.
The single diffractive production of the standard model Higgs boson is computed using the diffractive factorization formalism, taking into account a parametrization for the Pomeron structure function provided by the H1 Collaboration. We compute the cross sections at next-to-leading order accuracy for the gluon fusion process, which includes QCD and electroweak corrections. The gap survival probability ($<\!|S|^2\!>$) is also introduced to account for the rescattering corrections due to spectator particles present in the interaction, and to this end we compare two different models for the survi…
The rates for diffractive quarkonium plus prompt-photon associated production at the LHC are estimated. The theoretical framework considered in the J/Psi (or Upsilon) production associated with a direct photon at the hadron collider is the non-relativistic QCD (NRQCD) factorization formalism. The corresponding single diffractive cross section is computed based on the hard diffractive scattering factorization supplemented by absorptive corrections. Such processes are sensitive to the gluon content of the Pomeron at small Bjorken-x and they may also be a good place to test the different availabl…
We discuss a phenomenological model that describes results on diffractive pp and pbar-p cross sections and event final states up to the Fermilab Tevatron collider energy of 1.96 TeV and use it to make predictions for Large Hadron Collider (LHC) collision energies up to 14 TeV and asymptotically as the pp collision energy goes to infinity. The model is anchored in a saturation effect observed in single diffraction dissociation that explains quantitatively the factorization breaking observed in soft and hard pp and pbar-p diffractive processes and in diffractive photoproduction and low Q-square …
The possibility to study elastic and diffractive physics in pp collisions at LHC is investigated. For this purpose we have considered detectors close to the beam in conjunction with the magnetic elements of the accelerator to provide a high precision spectrometer for very forward final state protons. The geometrical acceptance is given and momentum resolution is calculated for different spatial resolution detectors.
In the light of LHC data, we discuss the global description of all high energy elastic and diffractive data, using a one-pomeron model, but including multi-pomeron interactions. The LHC data indicate the need of a $k_t(s)$ behaviour, where $k_t$ is the gluon transverse momentum along the partonic ladder structure which describes the pomeron. We also discuss tensions in the data, as well as the $t$ dependence of the slope of $dσ_{el}/dt$ in the small $t$ domain.
Measurements of soft and hard diffractive processes have been performed at the Tevatron p-pbar collider during the past decade. Diffractive events are studied by means of identification of one or more rapidity gaps and/or a leading antiproton. Here, results are discussed within the Tevatron data and compared to those obtained at the HERA ep collider. The traditional ``pomeron'' is described within the framework of QCD and the issues discussed include pomeron structure, diffractive cross section factorization, and universality of rapidity gap formation. Exclusive dijet and low-mass state produc…
In this paper, we present the results from phenomenological analysis of Z boson pair hard diffractive production at the LHC. The calculation is based on the Regge factorization approach. Diffractive parton density functions extracted by the H1 Collaboration at DESY-HERA are used. The multiple Pomeron exchange corrections are considered through the rapidity gap survival probability factor. We give numerical predictions for single diffractive as well as double Pomeron exchange cross sections and compare with the photon-induced and non-diffractive ones. The contributions from quark-anti-quark col…
We discuss a model which gives a `global' description of the wide variety of high-energy elastic and diffractive data that are presently available, particularly from the LHC experiments. The model is based on only one pomeron pole, but includes multi-pomeron interactions. Significantly, the LHC measurements require that the model includes the transverse momentum dependence of the intermediate partons as a function of their rapidity, which results in a rapidity (or energy) dependence of the multi-pomeron vertices.
We give predictions for diffractive heavy flavour production at the Tevatron and the LHC in leading--order approximation. In the framework of these studies we use three different models for the partonic structure of the Pomeron recently proposed by Stirling and Kunszt. These Pomeron models are, despite being fitted to the same diffractive deep inelastic HERA data, very different in their parton content and taken together provide a powerful tool to probe the structure of the Pomeron. All models satisfy GLAP evolution and show a significant $Q^2$ dependence. We give numerical predictions for sin…
We study the behaviour of elastic and diffractive proton dissociation cross sections at high energy. First, we describe what would be expected to be observed at the LHC based on conventional Regge theory. We emphasize the tension between these expectations and the recent LHC measurements, and we discuss the possibilty to modify the classic Reggeon Field Theory in a physically-motivated way so as to accommodate the tendencies observed at the LHC. As a result, we show that we are able to achieve a `global' description of the wide variety of high energy elastic and diffractive data that are prese…
The production of the $W$ and $Z$ bosons in single diffractive processes at the LHC is investigated taking into account the ATLAS, CMS and LHCb acceptances and considering different assumptions for the flavour content of the Pomeron. The total cross sections and pseudorapidity distributions are estimated for $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV. Our results indicate that a future experimental analysis of the ratio between the $W$ and $Z$ cross sections can be used to probe the flavour content of the Pomeron.
In this paper, it is shown that in hadron-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus collisions, the main source for central exclusive diffractive Higgs production is photon-photon fusion. At the LHC energy, the total cross section for this process is about 0.6 pb (for proton-gold scattering), and 3.9 nb (for gold-gold collision) while the gluon-gluon fusion leads to the value of the cross section for CED Higgs production which is about 0.1 nb and 3.9 pb respectively.
We examine a model of hadronic diffractive scattering which interpolates between perturbative QCD and non-perturbative fits. We restrict the perturbative QCD resummation to the large transverse momentum region, and use a simple Regge-pole parametrization in the infrared region. This picture allows us to account for existing data, and to estimate the size of the perturbative contribution to future diffractive measurements. At LHC and SSC energies, we find that a cut-off BFKL equation can lead to a measurable perturbative component in traditionally soft processes. In particular, we show that the…
A model for exclusive diffractive resonance production in proton-proton collisions at LHC energies is presented. This model is based on the convolution of the Donnachie-Landshoff parameterisation of Pomeron flux in the proton with the Pomeron cross section for resonance production. The hadronic cross section for f$_{0}$(980) and f$_{2}$(1270) production at midrapidity is given differentially in mass and transverse momentum of the resonance. The proton fractional longitudinal momentum loss is presented.
In this paper, we investigate the inclusive diffractive hadroproduction for $\rm η_{c}$ and $\rm η_{b}$ at the LHC energies. Based on the NRQCD factorization formalism and the resolved-Pomeron model for the quarkonium production mechanism, we estimate the rapidity, momentum fraction loss dependence of the cross section. We give prediction ratios for single and central diffractive processes with respect to non diffractive process. These inclusive processes are sensitive to gluon content of Pomeron for small-$x$ and Reggeon for large-$x$, useful to study small and large-$x$ physics and good to t…
We present predictions for the diffractive production of $χ$ mesons in the central rapidity region usually covered by collider detectors. The predicted cross sections are based on the Bialas-Landshoff formalism for both exclusive and inclusive production and makes use of the DPEMC Monte-Carlo simulation adapted with kinematics appropriate for small-mass diffractive production. We compare generator-level results with a CDF measurement for exclusive $χ$ production, and study background and other scenarios including the contribution of inclusive $χ$ production. The results agree with the Tevatron…
We discuss diffractive production of open charm and bottom mesons at the LHC. The differential cross sections for single- and central-diffractive mechanisms for $c\bar c$ and $b\bar b$ pair production are calculated in the framework of the Ingelman-Schlein model corrected for absorption effects. The LO gluon-gluon fusion and quark-antiquark anihilation partonic subprocesses are taken into consideration, which are calculated within standard collinear approximation. The extra corrections from reggeon exchanges are taken into account. The hadronization of charm and bottom quarks is taken into acc…
Unitarization schemes can be reduced to non-linear equations which saturate at small $b$ the evolution of the elastic amplitude with $s$, and which mimic parton saturation in the non-perturbative regime. These equations enable us to study the effect of saturation on total and elastic cross sections for various models, and to evaluate the uncertainties on $σ_{tot}$ and $ρ(s,t)$ at the LHC in the presence of a hard pomeron.
In this paper we discuss the survival probability for exclusive central diffractive production of a colorless small size system at the LHC. This process has a clear signature of two large rapidity gaps. Using the eikonal approach for the description of soft interactions, we predict the value of the survival probability to be about 5~6% for single channel models, while for a two channel model the survival probability is about 3%. The dependence of the survival probability factor (damping factor) on the transverse momenta of the recoiled protons is discussed, and we suggest it be measured at the…
We review elastic and diffractive scattering of protons (called also "forward physics") with emphasis on the LHC data, especially those deviating from the expectations based on extrapolations from earlier measurements at the ISR, Fermilab and thus triggering searches for new ideas, models and theories. We list these new data and provide a brief introduction of available theoretical approaches, mainly those based on analyticity, crossing symmetry and unitarity, particularly the Regge-pole model realizing these concepts. Fits to the data are presented and tensions between theoretical predictions…
We discuss the single diffractive production of $c \bar c$ pairs and charmed mesons at the LHC. In addition to standard collinear approach, for a first time we propose a $k_t$-factorization approach to the diffractive processes. The transverse momentum dependent (the unintegrated diffractive parton distributions) in proton are obtained with the help of the Kimber-Martin-Ryskin prescription where collinear diffractive PDFs are used as input. In this calculation the transverse momentum of the pomeron is neglected with respect to transverse momentum of partons entering the hard process. The resul…
The prospects for central exclusive diffractive (CED) production of MSSM Higgs bosons at the LHC are reviewed. It is shown that the CED channels, making use of forward proton detectors at the LHC installed at 220 m and 420 m distance around ATLAS and / or CMS, can provide important information on the Higgs sector of the MSSM. In particular, CED production of the neutral CP-even Higgs bosons h and H and their decays into bottom quarks has the potential to probe interesting regions of the M_A--tan_beta parameter plane of the MSSM and may give access to the bottom Yukawa couplings of the Higgs bo…
We discuss diffractive production of heavy mesons at the LHC. The differential cross sections for single- and central-diffractive mechanisms for $c\bar c$ pair production are calculated in the framework of the Ingelman-Schlein model corrected for absorption effects. Here, leading-order gluon-gluon fusion and quark-antiquark anihilation partonic subprocesses are taken into consideration. Both pomeron flux factors as well as parton distributions in the pomeron are taken from the H1 Collaboration analysis of diffractive structure function and diffractive dijets at HERA. The extra corrections from…
In this contribution we report on the investigation of central diffractive production of mesons $f_0(980)$ and $f_2(1270)$ at the energy of Large Hadron Collider in proton-proton collisions. The cross sections and rapidity distributions for these low-lying mesons are analyzed. The Pomeron-Pomeron process was considered relying on a nonperturbative Pomeron model which is justified by the low mass of considered resonances. The associated theoretical uncertainties are discussed.
Recently at LHC one has obtained measurements of the total, elastic and diffractive cross sections in pp collisions at very high energy. The total cross section is in good agreement with predictions based on a leading behavior σ_{tot} (s) \propto (\ln s/s_0)^2, on the other hand the elastic cross section is lower than most expectations and the diffractive cross section is higher. It is remarkable that the ratio (σ_{el} + σ_{diff})/σ_{tot} calculated combining the results of the TOTEM and ALICE detectors is 0.495^{+0.05}_{-0.06}, very close to the maximum theoretically allowed value of 1/2 know…
We discuss diffractive production of open charm and bottom mesons at the LHC. The differential cross sections for single- and central-diffractive mechanisms for $c\bar c$ and $b\bar b$ pair production are calculated in the framework of the Ingelman-Schlein model corrected for absorption effects. In this approach one assumes that the pomeron has a well defined partonic structure, and that the hard process takes place in a pomeron-proton or proton-pomeron (single diffraction) or pomeron-pomeron (central diffraction) processes. Here, leading-order gluon-gluon fusion and quark-antiquark anihilatio…
This work investigates the exclusive photoproduction of $ψ(2S)$ meson off nuclei evaluating the coherent and the incoherent contributions. The theoretical framework used in the present analysis is the light-cone dipole formalism and predictions are done for PbPb collisions at the CERN-LHC energy of 2.76 TeV. A comparison is done to the recent ALICE Collaboration data for the $ψ(1S)$ state photoproduction.
In this contribution we study for the first time the prompt photon production in single and double diffractive processes considering the resolved Pomeron model. We estimate the rapidity and transverse momentum dependence of the cross section for the production of two photons and of a photon and a jet. We show that these processes are sensitive to the pomeron structure. In contrast with the dijet and heavy quark production, which are dominated by gluon-gluon interactions, in prompt photon production, Compton like processes are dominant for single photon plus jet events. This gives a unique opor…
The PYTHIA 8 generator is used to estimate the percentage of non-diffractive and diffractive events at the LHC energies. It is shown that a simple condition of the absence of charged hadrons in the central pseudorapidity region is sufficient to remove almost all non-diffractive events. This opens the way to investigate diffraction without waiting for the future specialized detectors.
An alternative process is presented for diffractive Higgs boson production in peripheral $pp$ collisions, where the particles interact through the Double Pomeron Exchange. The event rate is computed as a central-rapidity distribution for Tevatron and LHC energies leading to a result around 0.6 pb, higher than the predictions from previous approaches. Therefore, this result arises as an enhanced signal for the detection of the Higgs boson in hadron colliders. The predictions for the Higgs boson photoproduction are compared to the ones obtained from a similar approach proposed by the Durham grou…
We briefly present the soft colour interaction models which are successful in reproducing a multitude of diffractive hard scattering data, and give predictions for diffractive Higgs production at the Tevatron and LHC. Only a few diffractive Higgs events may be produced at the Tevatron, but we predict a substantial rate at the LHC.
Inspired by the new TOTEM data on elastic $pp$ scattering at 13 TeV, we study the possibility to describe all the diffractive collider data ($σ_{\rm tot}, dσ_{\rm el}/dt$, $ρ\equiv$Re$A$/Im$A$, \sd) in a wide interval of energy (0.0625 to 13 TeV) in the framework of a two-channel eikonal model. We show that a satisfactory description can be achieved without an odd-signature (Odderon) exchange contribution. We consider the possible role of the QCD Odderon which may improve the description of $ρ$ and discuss the importance of the odd-signature term if the amplitude were to exceed the black disc …