Exclusive diffractive processes at HERA within the dipole picture

Abstract

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 saturation scale. The overall success of the description indicates universality of the emerging gluon distribution and proton shape.Comment: 48 pages, 28 figures, the final version to appear in Physical Review