Diffractive and Exclusive (Higgs?) Production from CDF to LHC
Konstantin Goulianos
备注：
24 pages, 11 figures, in Proceedings of Les Rencontres de Physique de la Valee d'Aoste, Results and Perspectives in Particle Physics, La Thuile, Aosta Valley, Italy, 4-10 March 2007- (Edited by M. Greco)
The diffractive program of the CDF Collaboration at the Fermilab Tevatron p-pbar collider is reviewed with emphasis on recent results from Run II at a c.m.s. energy of 1.96 TeV. Results are presented on the x-Bjorken and Q^2 dependence of the diffractive structure function obtained from di-jet production, on the slope parameter of the t-distribution of diffractive events as a function of Q^2 in the range 1 GeV^2<Q^2<10^4 GeV^2, and on cross sections for exclusive di-jet, e+e-, and di-photon production. The exclusive di-jet and di-photon production rates are used to check theoretical estimates of exclusive Higgs boson production at the Large Hadron Collider. Other data on soft and hard diffraction from p-ppbar collisions, and also data from diffractive deep inelastic scattering are presented and interpreted in the RENORM phenomenological model, in which cross sections are obtained from the underlying inclusive parton distribution function of the nucleon and QCD color factors.
Forward detectors are described together with the first physics results from Run II. Using new data and dedicated diffractive triggers, a measurement of single diffractive dijet production rate, with particular focus on the diffractive structure function of the antiproton, is discussed. Upper limits on the exclusive dijet and $χ^0_c$ production cross sections are also presented.
We report measurements of hard diffractive processes performed by the CDF collaboration in proton-antiproton collisions at the Fermilab Tevatron collider at $\sqrt{s}$=1960 GeV. The characteristics of the diffractive structure function from diffractive dijet production studies are presented. The results of exclusive dijet production in double pomeron exchange are discussed in the context of exclusive Higgs production at the LHC.
The CDF Forward Detector upgrade project was designed to enhance the capabilities for diffractive physics at the Tevatron. It consists of a Roman Pot spectrometer to detect leading antiprotons, a set of counters near and around the beam-pipe to reject the non-diffractive event contamination to the data sample, and two Miniplug calorimeters to measure the event energy flow in the very forward rapidity region. In the novel design of the Miniplugs, a lead/liquid-scintillator is read out by wave-length shifting fibers arranged in a flexible tower geometry and relatively short depth allows calorime…
Exclusive dijet production at the Tevatron can be used as a benchmark to establish predictions on exclusive diffractive Higgs production, a process with a much smaller cross section. Exclusive dijet production in Double Pomeron Exchange processes, including diffractive Higgs production with measurements at the Tevatron and predictions for the Large Hadron Collider are presented. Using new data from the Tevatron and dedicated diffractive triggers, no excess over a smooth falling distribution for exclusive dijet events could be found. Upper limits on the exclusive dijet production cross section …
We use a Monte Carlo implementation of recently developped models of double diffractive Higgs production to assess the sensitivity of the LHC experiments.
We explore the diffractive interaction of a proton with an anti-proton which results in centrally produced dijets. This process has been recently studied at the Tevatron. We make predictions within an Ingelman-Schlein approach and compare them to the recent data presented by the CDF collaboration. Earlier calculations resulted in theoretical cross-sections which are much larger than those observed by CDF. We find that, after consideration of hadronisation effects and the parton shower, and using parton density functions extracted from diffractive deep inelastic scattering at HERA, it is possib…
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.
Central diffractive production of heavy states (massive dijets, Higgs boson) is studied in the exclusive mode using a new Hybrid Pomeron Model (HPM). Built from Hybrid Pomerons defined by the combination of one hard and one soft color exchanges, the model describes well the centrally produced diffractive dijet data at the Tevatron. Predictions for the Higgs boson and dijet exclusive production at the LHC are presented.
In the framework of the QCD shock-wave approach, we review our results on the description of diffractive production of various final states (jets, meson) at next-to-leading order. This is applied to exclusive diffractive dijet electroproduction at HERA.
We calculate for the first time cross sections for single and central diffractive as well as exclusive diffractive production of dilepton pairs in proton-proton collisions. Several differential distributions are shown. The inclusive diffractive processes are calculated using diffractive parton distributions extracted from the analysis of diffractive structure function and dijet production at HERA. We find that the inclusive single-diffractive Drell-Yan process is by about 2 orders of magnitude smaller than ordinary Drell-Yan process. The central-diffractive processes are smaller by one order o…
Exclusive and semi-exclusive processes, the diffractive dissociation of hadrons into jets, and hard diffractive processes such as vector meson leptoproduction provide new testing grounds for QCD and essential information on the structure of light-cone wavefunctions of hadrons, particularly the pion distribution amplitude. I review the basic features of the leading-twist QCD predictions and the problems and challenges of studying QCD at the amplitude level. The application of the light-cone formalism to the exclusive semi-leptonic decay of heavy hadrons is also discussed.
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.
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.
In this paper we describe a formalism for generating exclusive final states in diffractive excitation, based on the optical analogy where diffraction is fully determined by the absorption into inelastic channels. The formalism is based on the Good--Walker formalism for diffractive excitation, and it is assumed that the virtual parton cascades represent the diffractive eigenstates defined by a definite absorption amplitude. We emphasize that, although diffractive excitation is basically a quantum-mechanical phenomenon with strong interference effects, it is possible to calculate the different i…
We discuss the contribution of so-called semi-enhanced hard rescattering corrections to central exclusive diffractive Higgs production, pp -> p+H+p, at the LHC. We present arguments to show that these corrections are small. We confirm these expectations by considering HERA data for leading neutron production.
Calculations of central exclusive diffractive di-pion continuum production are presented in the Regge-eikonal approach. Data from ISR, STAR, CDF and CMS were analyzed and compared with theoretical description. We also consider theoretical predictions for LHC, possible nuances and problems of calculations and prospects of investigations at present and future hadron colliders.
Exclusive electroproduction of hard dijets can be described within the collinear factorization. This process has clear experimental signature and provides one with an interesting alternative venue to test QCD description of hard diffractive processes and extract information on generalized nucleon parton distributions. In this work we present detailed leading-order QCD calculations of the relevant cross sections, including longitudinal momentum fraction distribution of the dijets and their azimuthal angle dependence.
We use as a starting point the original, central inclusive Bialas-Landshoff model for Higgs and dijet production by a double pomeron exchange in pp collisions. Next we propose the simple extension of this model to the exclusive processes. We find the extended model to be consistent with the CDF Run I, II upper limits for double diffractive exclusive dijet production. The predictions for the exclusive Higgs boson production cross sections at the Tevatron and the LHC energies are also presented.
We present two NLO exclusive impact factors computed in the QCD shock wave approach. These are the very first steps towards precision studies of a wide range of high energy exclusive processes with saturation effects in $ep$, $eA$, $pp$ and $pA$ collisions.
Relying on the shockwave approach, we present the main steps of the computation of the impact factor for the exclusive diffractive photo- or electro- production of a forward dijet with NLO accuracy. We provide details of the cancellation mechanisms for all the divergences which appear in the intermediate results.
The diffractive production of vector mesons in deep inelastic scattering (DIS) is calculated in the McLerran-Venugopalan model. This is relevant when large parton densities are probed by the virtual photon, as is the case at small Bjorken x or in DIS off nuclei. We investigate differences between the exclusive production (when the target doesn't break up) which dominates at small momentum transfer squared |t|, and the diffractive production (when the target scatters inelastically) which dominates at large |t|.
The AdS/QCD holographic wave function of basis light-front quantization (BLFQ) for vector meson $J/ψ$ is applied in this manuscript. The exclusive production of $J/ψ$ in diffractive process is computed in dipole model with AdS/QCD holographic wave function. We use IP-Sat and IIM model in the calculation of the differential cross section of the dipole scattering off the proton. The prediction of AdS/QCD holographic wave function in BLFQ gives a good agreement to the experimental data.
We present the general rules for double-Reggeon production of objects with different spins and parities. The existing experimental information on resonance production in these central exclusive diffractive processes is discussed. The absorptive corrections are calculated and found to depend strongly on the quantum numbers of the produced states. The central exclusive diffractive production of 0^+ and 0^- Higgs bosons is studied as an illustrative topical example of the use of the general rules. The signal for diffractive 0^+ and 0^- Higgs production at the LHC is evaluated using, as an example…
Predictions for deep Virtual Compton Scattering are obtained in a two-component dipole model of diffraction. The model automatically includes hard and soft components and implicitly allows for ``hadronic'' contributions via large dipoles. It is also applicable to real Compton Scattering, which provides an important constraint.
We consider the general theoretical framework to study exclusive double diffractive events (EDDE). It is a powerful tool to study the picture of the $pp$ interaction. Basic kinematical and dynamical properties of the process, and also normalization of parameters via standard processes like the exclusive vector meson production (EVMP), are considered in detail. As an example, calculations of the cross-sections in the model with three pomerons for the process $p+p\to p+M+p$ are presented for Tevatron and LHC energies.
We calculate differential cross sections for exclusive double diffractive (EDD) production of open charm in proton-proton and proton-antiproton collisions. Sizeable cross sections are found. The EDD contribution constitutes about 1 % of the total inclusive cross section for open charm production. A few differential distributions are shown and discussed. The EDD contribution falls faster both with transverse momentum of the $c$ quark/antiquark and the $c \bar c$ invariant mass than in the inclusive case.
We discuss exclusive double diffractive (EDD) production of heavy quark - heavy antiquark pairs at high energies. Differential distributions for $c \bar c$ at $\sqrt{s}$ = 1.96 GeV and for $b \bar b$ at $\sqrt{s}$ = 14 TeV are shown and discussed. Irreducible leading-order $b \bar b $ background to Higgs production is calculated for the first time in several kinematical variables. The signal-to-background ratio is shown and several improvements are suggested.
Experimental results in diffractive processes are summarized and a few notable characteristics described in terms of Quantum Chromodynamics. Exclusive dijet production is used to establish a benchmark for future experiments in the quest for diffractive Higgs production at the Large Hadron Collider. Using new data from the Tevatron and dedicated diffractive triggers, no excess over a smooth falling distribution for exclusive dijet events could be found. Stringent upper limits on the exclusive dijet production cross section are presented. The quark/gluon composition of dijet final states is used…
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.
A detailed analysis of semi-exclusive diffractive processes in e-p DIS at HERA, with the diffractive final states in the forward direction is presented. The contributions of the subleading f_2, ω, a_2, ρreggeons and the pion exchanges to the diffractive structure function with the forward proton or neutron are estimated. It is found that the (a_2,ρ) reggeons are entirely responsible for the forward neutron production at x_P < 10^{-3}. The πN production in the forward region is estimated using the Deck mechanism. The significance of this reaction for the processes measured at HERA, especially w…
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.
We discuss central exclusive production of $W^+W^-$ pairs in proton-proton collisions at LHC. Predictions for the total cross section and differential distributions in transverse momentum of $W^{\pm}$ and $WW$ invariant mass are presented. We discuss both $γγ\to W^+ W^-$ mechanism as well as a new mechanism of exclusive diffractive production. The amplitude for the latter process is calculated in the Durham model. We compare the two (QED and QCD) types of contributions. The diffractive contribution is only a small fraction of fb compared to the $γγ$ contribution which is of the order of 100 fb…
We discuss exclusive double diffractive (EDD) production of Higgs boson and heavy quark - heavy antiquark pairs at high energies. Differential distributions for $c \bar c$ at $\sqrt{s}$ = 1.96 GeV and for $b \bar b$ at $\sqrt{s}$ = 14 TeV are shown and discussed. Irreducible leading-order $b \bar b $ background to Higgs production is calculated in several kinematical variables. The signal-to-background ratio is shown and several improvements are suggested by imposing cuts on $b$ ($\bar b$) transverse momenta and rapidities.
We discuss two different models for the impact parameter dependent dipole cross section: one based on DGLAP evolution and the other inspired by the Balitsky-Kovchegov equation. The parameters are determined from fits to data on the total gamma* p cross section measured at HERA. The impact parameter dependent saturation scale is extracted. Predictions are then confronted with HERA data on exclusive diffractive vector meson production and deeply virtual Compton scattering. Finally, predictions are given for the cross sections of exclusive photoproduced J/psi and Upsilon mesons, and Z^0 bosons, e…
Diffractive events are studied by means of identification of one or more rapidity gaps and/or a leading antiproton. Measurements of soft and hard diffractive processes have been performed at the Tevatron $p\bar p$ collider and presented. We report on the diffractive structure function obtained from dijet production in the range $0<Q^2<10,000$GeV$^2$, and on the $|t|$ distribution in the region $0<|t|<1$GeV$^2$ for both soft and hard diffractive events up to $Q^2\approx 4,500$GeV$^2$. Results on single diffractive W/Z production, forward jets, and central exclusive production of both dijets and…
We review the diffractive measurements made by the CDF and DØ collaborations during Run I at the Tevatron and summarize the detector upgrades relevant for the Run II diffractive physics program.
The exclusive reaction $pp \to pp (K^{*0} \bar{K}^{*0} \to K^{+}π^{-}K^{-}π^{+})$ for the LHC experiments is discussed. The amplitudes for the reaction are formulated within the tensor-pomeron approach. We consider two diffractive mechanisms: the $f_{2}(1950)$ $s$-channel exchange mechanism and the $K^{*0}$-exchange mechanism. First mechanism is a candidate for central diffractive production of tensor glueball and the second one is an irreducible continuum. Comparison with data from WA102 experiment are made and predictions for LHC experiments are given. We find that including the continuum co…
We present a study of central exclusive production of $W^+W^-$ pairs in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. We compare the contribution of the $γγ\to W^+ W^-$ mechanism with a new mechanism of exclusive diffractive production through the $gg \to W^+ W^-$ subprocess with intermediate virtual Higgs boson and quark box diagrams. The amplitude for the latter process is expressed in terms of the off-diagonal unintegrated gluon distribution functions. Several observables related to this process are calculated. The phase space integrated diffractive contribution when separated is only a small fracti…
We derive the forward photoproduction amplitude for the diffractive $γp \to l^+ l^- p$ reaction in the momentum space. within the formalism of $k_\perp$- factorization. Predictions for the $γp \to l^+ l^- p$ reaction are given using unintegrated gluon distribution from the literature. We calculate the total cross section as a function of photon-proton center of mass energy and the invariant mass distribution of the lepton pair. We also discuss whether the production of timelike virtual photons can be approximated by continuing to the spacelike domain $ q^2 < 0$. The present calculation provide…
We compute the cross section for exclusive double-diffractive gamma-gamma production at the Tevatron, $p{\bar p} \to p + γγ+ {\bar p}$, and the LHC. We evaluate both the gluon-gluon and quark-antiquark t-channel exchange contributions to the process. The observation of exclusive gamma-gamma production at the Tevatron will provide a check on the model predictions, and offer an opportunity to confirm the expectations for exclusive double-diffractive Higgs production at the LHC.
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).
We present a simultaneous analysis, within an impact parameter dependent saturated dipole model, of exclusive diffractive vector meson (J/psi, phi and rho) production, deeply virtual Compton scattering and the total gamma* p cross section data measured at HERA. Various cross sections measured as a function of the kinematic variables Q^2, W and t are well described, with little sensitivity to the details of the vector meson wave functions. We determine the properties of the gluon density in the proton in both longitudinal and transverse dimensions, including the impact parameter dependent satur…
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 evaluate differential distributions for exclusive scalar $f_0(1500)$ meson (glueball candidate) production. Both QCD diffractive, pion-pion meson exchange current (MEC) components as well as double-diffractive mechanism with intermediate pionic loop are calculated. The pion-pion component, which can be reliably calculated, dominates close to the threshold while the diffractive component may take over only for larger energies. At the moment only upper limit for the QCD-diffractive component can be obtained. The diffractive component is calculated based on the Khoze-Martin-Ryskin approach pro…
Central exclusive double diffractive Higgs boson production, p p \to p + H + p, is now recognised as an important search scenario for the LHC. We consider the case when the Higgs boson decays to two W bosons, one of which may be off-mass-shell, that subsequently decay to the q qbar l nu final state. An important background to this is from the QCD process g g \to W q qbar, where the two gluons are required to be in a J_z=0, colour-singlet state. We perform an explicit calculation and investigate the salient properties of this potentially important background process.
The double pomeron exchange contributions to the central inclusive and exclusive chi_c0 and chi_b0 mesons production in the Bialas-Landshoff approach are calculated. We find the model to be consistent with the preliminary CDF upper limit on double diffractive exclusive chi_c0 production cross section.
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 perform the first next-to-leading order computation of the $γ^{(*)} \to V$ ($ρ, ϕ, ω$) impact factor in the QCD shockwave approach and in the most general kinematics. This paves the way to the very first quantitative study of high-energy nucleon and nucleus saturation beyond the leading order, in various processes to be measured in $ep$, $eA$, $pp$ and $pA$ collisions at existing and future colliders.
A model for exclusive diffractive resonance production in proton-proton collisions at high energies is presented. This model is able to predict double differential distributions with respect to the mass and the transverse momentum of the produced resonance in the mass region $\sqrt{M^2}\le$5 GeV. The model is based on convoluting the Pomeron distribution in the proton with the Pomeron-Pomeron-meson total cross section. The Pomeron-Pomeron-meson cross section is saturated by direct-channel contributions from the Pomeron as well as from two different $f$ trajectories, accompanied by the isolated…
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…
Calculations of central exclusive diffractive production (CEDP) of two pions via continuum and resonance mechanism are presented in the Regge-eikonal approach. Data from STAR, ISR, CDF and CMS were analysed and compared with theoretical description. Preliminary extraction of $f_0(500)$, $f_0(980)$ and $f_2(1270)$ couplings to Pomeron, and also $ρ$ meson contribution from photoproduction mechanism to the CEDP cross-section are considered. We show possible nuances and problems of calculations and prospects of investigations at present and future hadron colliders.
We present the calculation of the impact factor for the $γ^{(*)}\to q\bar{q}$ transition with one loop accuracy in arbitrary kinematics. The calculation was done within Balitsky's high energy operator expansion. Together with our previous result for the $γ^{(*)}\to q\bar{q} g$ Born impact factor it allows one to derive cross-sections for 2- (one loop) and 3-jet (Born) difractive electroproduction. We write such cross sections for the 2 and 3 jet exclusive diffractive electroproduction off a proton in terms of hadronic matrix elements of Wilson lines. For the 2-jet cross section we demonstrate …
We studied the $ep\rightarrow ep+2jets$ diffractive cross section with ZEUS phase space. Neglecting the $t$-channel momentum in the Born and gluon dipole impact factors, we calculated the corresponding contributions to the cross section differential in $β=\frac{Q^{2}}{Q^{2}+M_{2jets}^{2}}$ and the angle $ϕ$ between the leptonic and hadronic planes. The gluon dipole contribution was obtained in the exclusive $k_{t}$-algorithm with the exclusive cut $y_{cut}=0.15$ in the small $y_{cut}$ approximation. In the collinear approximation we canceled singularities between real and virtual contributions…
We discuss exclusive central diffractive production of $π^{+} π^{-}$ in proton-(anti)proton collisions at high energies. Based on a tensor pomeron model we present results of the purely diffractive dipion continuum, the scalar $f_{0}(500)$, $f_{0}(980)$ and tensor $f_{2}(1270)$ resonances decaying into the $π^{+} π^{-}$ pairs as well as the photoproduction mechanism ($ρ^{0}$, Drell-Söding). We discuss how two pomerons couple to the tensor meson $f_{2}(1270)$ and the interference effects of resonance and dipion continuum contributions. The theoretical results are compared with existing STAR, CD…
In a recent paper (hep-ph/0608271) we describe a new approach to rapidity gap survival (RGS) in the production of high-mass systems (H = dijet, Higgs, etc.) in exclusive double-gap diffractive pp scattering, pp -> p + H + p. It is based on the idea that hard and soft interactions are approximately independent (QCD factorization), and allows us to calculate the RGS probability in a model-independent way in terms of the gluon generalized parton distributions (GPDs) in the colliding protons and the pp elastic scattering amplitude. Here we focus on the transverse momentum dependence of the cross s…
Exclusive diffractive production of real photons and vector mesons in ep collisions has been studied at HERA in a wide kinematic range. Here we present and discuss a Regge-type model of real photon production (Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering), as well as production of vector mesons (VMP) treated on the same footing by using an extension of a factorized Regge-pole model proposed earlier. The model has been fitted to the HERA data. Despite the very small number of the free parameters, the model gives a satisfactory description of the experimental data, both for the total cross section as a fun…
We discuss consequences of the models of "tensorial pomeron" and "vectorial pomeron" for exclusive diffractive production of scalar and pseudoscalar mesons in proton-proton collisions. Diffractive production of $f_{0}(980)$, $f_{0}(1370)$, $f_{0}(1500)$, $η$, and $η'(958)$ mesons is discussed. Different pomeron-pomeron-meson tensorial coupling structures are possible in general. In most cases two lowest orbital angular momentum - spin couplings are necessary to describe experimental differential distributions. For $f_{0}(980)$ and $η$ production reggeon-pomeron, pomeron-reggeon, and reggeon-re…
The implementation of exclusive diffractive production of Higgs boson and dijets in the FPMC (Forward Physics Monte Carlo) framework is presented following the models by Khoze, Martin, Ryskin and Cudell, Dechambre, Hernandez and Ivanov. The predictions of the models are compared to the CDF measurement of exclusive jets and the uncertainties on the Higgs boson and jet production cross sections at the LHC are discussed.
The amplitude for $γp \to V p$, where $V$ is a $J/ψ$ or $Υ$ ground state or excited vector meson, is calculated in a pQCD $k_{T}$-factorization approach. We use this amplitude to predict the cross section for exclusive photoproduction of $J/ψ, ψ', Υ$ mesons in proton-proton collisions. Calculations are performed for a variety of unintegrated gluon distributions, and we compare our results to LHCb data. Here we especially focus on the possibilty of constraining saturation effects. Compared to earlier calculations we include both Dirac and Pauli electromagnetic form factors. We discuss the role …
The case of the low invariant mass exclusive central diffractive production is considered in the general theoretical framework. It is shown that diffractive patterns (differential cross-sections on variables like transfer momenta squared, the azimuthal angle between final hadrons and their combinations) can serve as a unique tool to explore the picture of the $pp$ interaction and falsify theoretical models. Basic kinematical and dynamical properties of the process are considered in detail. As an example, visualizations of diffractive patterns in the model with three pomerons for processes $p+p…
