Proton structure function at small Q^2

A fit is made to the data for the proton structure function up to Q^2=10 GeV^2, including the real gamma p total cross-section. It is economical and simple, and its form is motivated by physical principles. It is extrapolated down to very small values of x. Data for the ratio (nu W_2^n/nu W_2^p) are also fitted. A FORTRAN program for the fit to (nu W_2^p) is available by email on request Figure 5 from the original version has been deleted.Comment: 10 pages plus 9 figure

Observing the Odderon: Tensor Meson Photoproduction

We calculate high-energy photoproduction of the tensor meson $f_2(1270)$ by odderon and photon exchange in the reaction $\gamma + {\rm{p}} \to f_2(1270) + {\rm{X}}$, where X is either the nucleon or the sum of the N(1520) and N(1535) baryon resonances. Odderon exchange dominates except at very small transverse momentum, and we find a cross section of about 20 nb at a centre-of-mass energy of 20 GeV. This result is compared with what is currently known experimentally about $f_2$ photoproduction. We conclude that odderon exchange is not ruled out by present data. On the contrary, an odderon-induced cross section of the above magnitude may help to explain a puzzling result observed by the E687 experiment.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figure

Photon-Photon and Pomeron-Pomeron Processes in Peripheral Heavy Ion Collisions

We estimate the cross sections for the production of resonances, pion pairs and a central cluster of hadrons in peripheral heavy-ion collisions through two-photon and double-pomeron exchange, at energies that will be available at RHIC and LHC. The effect of the impact parameter in the diffractive reactions is introduced, and imposing the condition for realistic peripheral collisions we verify that in the case of very heavy ions the pomeron-pomeron contribution is indeed smaller than the electromagnetic one. However, they give a non-negligible background in the collision of light ions. This diffractive background will be more important at RHIC than at LHC.Comment: 22 pages, 1 Postscript figures, 4 tables, to appear in Phys. Rev.

A Comprehensive Approach to Structure Functions

We present a model based on a dipole picture with a hard and a soft pomeron in which large dipoles couple to the soft pomeron and small dipoles couple to the hard pomeron. The parameters in the model are fixed by proton-proton scattering and the proton structure function. The model is then applied successfully to the proton charm structure function, the proton longitudinal structure function, J/psi photoproduction, deep virtual Compton scattering, the real photon-proton total cross section, the real photon-photon cross section, and the photon structure function. Differences between our predictions and data on charm production in real photon-photon interactions and the virtual gamma-gamma cross section are discussed

Anomalous f_1 exchange in vector meson photoproduction asymmetries

We perform an analysis of the elastic production of vector mesons with polarized photon beams at high energy in order to investigate the validity of a recently proposed dynamical mechanism based on the dominance of the f_1 trajectory at large momentum transfer. The density matrix characterizing the angular distributions of the vector meson decays is calculated within an exchange model which includes the Pomeron and the f_1. The asymmetries of these decays turn out to be very useful to disentangle the role of these exchanges since their effect depends crucially on their quantum numbers which are different. The observables analyzed are accessible with present experimental facilities.Comment: 10 pages, REVTeX, 4 figures, some figures are corrected, conclusions unchange

Diffractive Production of Vector Mesons at Large t

The cross section for elastic vector meson production in photon-proton interactions at large $t$ is considered using the exact analytic solution of the BFKL equation in the azimuthally symmetric $n=0$ limit. We use a non-relativistic model for the vector meson production and find a small shrinkage in the $t$-distribution with increasing energy.Comment: 13 pages plus 3 figures (uuencoded

Impact of saturation on spin effects in proton-proton scattering

For pomerons described by a sum of two simple-pole terms, a soft and a hard pomeron, the unitarity bounds from saturation in impact-parameter space are examined. We consider the effect of these bounds on observables linked with polarisation, such as the analyzing power in elastic proton-proton scattering, for LHC energies. We obtain the s and t dependence of the Coulomb-nuclear interference at small momentum transfer, and show that the effect of the hard pomeron may be observed at the LHC.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, presented by O.V.S. at the Advanced Studies Institute "Symetries and Spin" (SPIN-Praha-2004), Prague, July 5 - July 10, 200

Diffractive Meson Production and the Quark-Pomeron Coupling

Diffractive meson production at HERA offers interesting possibilities to investigate diffractive processes and thus to learn something about the properties of the pomeron. The most succesful phenomenological description of the pomeron so far assumes it to couple like a $C = +1$ isoscalar photon to single quarks. This coupling leads, however, to problems for exclusive diffractive reactions. We propose a new phenomenological pomeron vertex, which leads to very good fits to the known data, but avoids the problems of the old vertex.Comment: 20 pages, latex with uuencoded postscript, revised versio

Production of eta Mesons in Double Pomeron Exchange

We estimate the production cross sections for $\eta_c$ and $\eta_b$ mesons via pomeron-pomeron fusion in peripheral heavy-ion collisions. Total and elastic PP cross sections are calculated in an equivalent pomeron approximation.Comment: 9 pages, 3 Postscript figure

An isotopic effect in phi photoproduction at a few GeV

A distinct isotopic effect in phi photoproduction at 2-5 GeV region is identified by examining the production amplitudes due to Pomeron-exchange and meson-exchange mechanisms. This effect is mainly caused by the pi-eta interference constrained by SU(3) symmetry and the isotopic structure of the gamma NN coupling in the direct phi-radiation amplitude. It can be tested experimentally by measuring differences in the polarization observables between the gamma-p and gamma-n reactions.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure