Light vector meson photoproduction in hadron-hadron and nucleus-nucleus collisions at the energies available at the CERN Large Hadron Collider

In this work we analyse the theoretical uncertainties on the predictions for the photoproduction of light vector mesons in coherent pp, pA and AA collisions at the LHC energies using the color dipole approach. In particular, we present our predictions for the rapidity distribution for rh0 and phi photoproduction and perform an analysis on the uncertainties associated to the choice of vector meson wavefunctionand the phenomenological models for the dipole cross section. Comparison is done with the recent ALICE analysis on coherent production of rho at 2.76 TeV in PbPb collisions.Comment: 07 pages, 6 figures. Version to be published in Phys. Rev.

Diffractive dissociation in proton-nucleus collisions at collider energies

The cross section for the nuclear diffractive dissociation in proton-lead collisions at the LHC is estimated. Based on the current theoretical uncertainties for the single (target) diffactive cross section in hadron-hadron reactions one obtains sigma_SD(5.02 TeV) = 19.67 \pm 5.41 mb and sigma_SD(8.8 TeV) = 18.76 \pm 5.77 mb, respectively. The invariant mass M_X for the reaction pPb -> pX is also analyzed. Discussion is performed on the main theoretical uncertainties associated to the calculations.Comment: 04 pages, 2 figures. Final version to be published in European Physical Journal A - "Hadrons and Nuclei

Exclusive photoproduction of quarkonium in proton-nucleus collisions at energies available at the CERN Large Hadron Collider

In this work we investigate the coherent photoproduction of psi(1S), psi(2S) and Upsilon (1S) states in the proton-nucleus collisions in the LHC energies. Predictions for the rapidity distributions are presented using the color dipole formalism and including saturation effects that are expected to be relevant at high energies. Calculations are done at the energy 5.02 TeV and also for the next LHC run at 8.8 TeV in proton-lead mode. Discussion is performed on the main theoretical uncertainties associated to the calculations.Comment: 05 pages, 5 figures. Version to be published in Phys. Rev.

Double charmed meson production in pppp and pApA collisions at the LHC within the dipole approach in momentum representation

A study of double charmed meson production in proton-proton and proton-nucleus collisions at the LHC energies is performed. Based on the color dipole formalism developed in the transverse momentum representation and the double parton scattering mechanism, predictions are made for the transverse momentum differential cross section for different pairs of $D$-mesons. The theoretical results consider the center-of-mass energy and forward rapidities associated to the measurements by the LHCb Collaboration. The results considering different unintegrated gluon distributions are presented and compared to data and predictions for proton-nucleus collisions are provided.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figure

The color dipole picture for prompt photon production in pppp and pPbpPb collisions at the CERN-LHC

A study on the prompt photon production within the QCD color dipole picture with emphasis in $pp$ and $pA$ collisions at the LHC energy regimes is performed. We present predictions for the differential cross section as a function of photon transverse momentum at different rapidity bins considering updated phenomenological color dipole models, which take into account the QCD gluon saturation physics. The results are directly compared to the recent experimental measurements provided by CMS and ATLAS Collaborations, showing a reasonable agreement in all rapidity bins with no free parameters. Special attention is given to the IPSAT model given its good description of the data in all rapidity bins from low- to high-$p_{T}$ ranges. As a result, a free-parameter approach has succeeded in describing the LHC data for prompt photon production, while new predictions for the 13-TeV data is presented in view of new data to confirm such prospect.Comment: 12 pages, 18 figure

A study on the isolated photon production in nuclear collisions at the CERN-LHC energies

An analysis of prompt photon production in high energy nuclear collisions at the LHC energy regime is performed within the parton saturation picture taking into account the updated phenomenological color dipole models. The results are confronted with the measurements made by the ALICE, ATLAS, and CMS experiments in terms of photon transverse momentum at different rapidity bins. As a result, we show that the prompt photon production exhibits distinct scalings in $AA$ events associated to geometrical properties of the collision and can be properly addressed in the color dipole formalism.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figure

Prompt photon production in high-energy pApA collisions at forward rapidity

Prompt photon production in hadronic collisions at the RHIC and the LHC energies is investigated within the QCD color dipole approach. Predictions for the nuclear modification factor in $pA$ collisions are evaluated based on parton saturation framework and the results are compared to the experimental measurements as a function of the photon transverse momentum at different rapidity bins. The reliability of the models is performed with the data from PHENIX, ATLAS, and ALICE Collaborations. Moreover, we show that the observed $x_T$-scaling of prompt photon production in $pp$ and $pA$ collisions can positively be addressed in the QCD color dipole formalism.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figure