Exclusive processes with a leading neutron in epep collisions

In this paper we extend the color dipole formalism to the study of exclusive processes associated with a leading neutron in $ep$ collisions at high energies. The exclusive $\rho$, $\phi$ and $J/\Psi$ production, as well as the Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering, are analysed assuming a diffractive interaction between the color dipole and the pion emitted by the incident proton. We compare our predictions with the HERA data on $\rho$ production and estimate the magnitude of the absorption corrections. We show that the color dipole formalism is able to describe the current data. Finally, we present our estimate for the exclusive cross sections which can be studied at HERA and in future electron-proton colliders.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures. Version published in Physical Review

Diffractive ρ\rho production at small xx in future Electron - Ion Colliders

The future Electron - Ion ($eA$) Collider is expected to probe the high energy regime of the QCD dynamics, with the exclusive vector meson production cross section being one of the most promising observables. In this paper we complement previous studies of exclusive processes presenting a comprehensive analysis of diffractive $\rho$ production at small $x$. We compute the coherent and incoherent cross sections taking into account non-linear QCD dynamical effects and considering different models for the dipole - proton scattering amplitude and for the vector meson wave function. The dependence of these cross sections with the energy, photon virtuality, nuclear mass number and squared momentum transfer is analysed in detail. Moreover, we compare the non-linear predictions with those obtained in the linear regime. Finally, we also estimate the exclusive photon, $J/\Psi$ and $\phi$ production and compare with the results obtained for $\rho$ production. Our results demonstrate that the analysis of diffractive $\rho$ production in future electron - ion colliders will be important to understand the non-linear QCD dynamics.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, 1 table. Enlarged and revised version to be published in the Journal of Physics G. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1503.0064

Investigating the impact of the gluon saturation effects on the momentum transfer distributions for the exclusive vector meson photoproduction in hadronic collisions

The exclusive vector meson production cross section is one of the most promising observables to probe the high energy regime of the QCD dynamics. In particular, the squared momentum transfer ($t$) distributions are an important source of information about the spatial distribution of the gluons in the hadron and about fluctuations of the color fields. In this paper we complement previous studies on exclusive vector meson photoproduction in hadronic collisions presenting a comprehensive analysis of the $t$ - spectrum measured in exclusive $\rho$, $\phi$ and $J/\Psi$ photoproduction in $pp$ and $PbPb$ collisions at the LHC. We compute the differential cross sections taking into account gluon saturation effects and compare the predictions with those obtained in the linear regime of the QCD dynamics. Our results show that gluon saturation suppresses the magnitude of the cross sections and shifts the position of the dips towards smaller values of $t$.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1612.0625

Exclusive Υ\Upsilon photoproduction in hadronic collisions at CERN LHC energies

The exclusive $\Upsilon$ photoproduction in proton-proton and proton - nucleus collisions at LHC energies is investigated using the color dipole formalism and considering different models for the $\Upsilon$ wave function and forward dipole - target scattering amplitude. Our goal is to update the color dipole predictions and estimate the theoretical uncertainty present in these predictions. We present predictions for the kinematical ranges probed by the ALICE, CMS and LHCb Collaborations.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures and 3 tables. Version to be published in Physics Letters

Double vector meson production in photon - hadron interactions at hadronic colliders

In this paper we analyse the double vector meson production in photon -- hadron ($\gamma h$) interactions at $pp/pA/AA$ collisions and present predictions for the $\rho\rho$, $J/\Psi J/\Psi$ and $\rho J/\Psi$ production considering the double scattering mechanism. We estimate the total cross sections and rapidity distributions at LHC energies and compare our results with the predictions for the double vector meson production in $\gamma \gamma$ interactions at hadronic colliders. We present predictions for the different rapidity ranges probed by the ALICE, ATLAS, CMS and LHCb Collaborations. Our results demonstrate that the $\rho\rho$ and $J/\Psi J/\Psi$ production in $PbPb$ collisions is dominated by the double scattering mechanism, while the two - photon mechanism dominates in $pp$ collisions. Moreover, our results indicate that the analysis of the $\rho J/\Psi$ production at LHC can be useful to constrain the double scattering mechanism.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables. Revised and enlarged version to be published in the European Physical Journal

Double vector meson production in γγ\gamma \gamma interactions at hadronic colliders

In this paper we revisit the double vector meson production in $\gamma \gamma$ interactions at heavy ion collisions and present, by the first time, predictions for the $\rho\rho$ and $J/\Psi J/\Psi$ production in proton -- nucleus and proton -- proton collisions. In order to obtain realistic predictions for rapidity distributions and total cross sections for the double vector production in ultra peripheral hadronic collisions we take into account of the description of $\gamma \gamma \rightarrow VV$ cross section at low energies as well as its behaviour at large energies, associated to the gluonic interaction between the color dipoles. Our results demonstrate that the double $\rho$ production is dominated by the low energy behaviour of the $\gamma \gamma \rightarrow VV$ cross section. In contrast, for the double $J/\Psi$ production, the contribution associated to the description of the QCD dynamics at high energies contributes significantly, mainly in $pp$ collisions. Predictions for the RHIC, LHC, FCC and CEPC - SPPC energies are shown.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1504.0441