Detecting h_c(^1P_1) at the LHC

TL;DR

This paper calculates the production rate of the h_c(^1P_1) charmonium state at the LHC, showing significant event numbers that enable further study of its properties.

Contribution

It provides the first leading-order calculation of h_c(^1P_1) production at the LHC including both color-singlet and octet mechanisms.

Findings

Significant number of h_c events expected at LHC.

Potential for detailed study of P-wave spin-singlet charmonium.

Supports future experimental investigations.

Abstract

In this work, we calculate the $h_c(^1P_1)$ production rate at the LHC to leading order of the strong coupling constant, for both color-singlet and -octet mechanisms. Numerical results show that a considerable number of $h_c$ events with moderate transverse momentum $p_T$ will be produced in the early run of the LHC, which will supply a good opportunity to further study the nature of this P-wave spin-singlet charmonium state.