Non-linear QCD dynamics and exclusive production in $ep$ collisions

TL;DR

This paper uses the color dipole model and the Balitsky-Kovchegov equation with running coupling to compute exclusive $ep$ scattering cross sections, successfully describing HERA data and informing future collider physics.

Contribution

It introduces a numerical solution of the BK equation with running coupling for exclusive processes, enhancing the understanding of small-$x$ QCD dynamics in $ep$ collisions.

Findings

The model accurately describes DESY-HERA data.

Small-$x$ evolution impacts future collider measurements.

Relevance for photoproduction at the LHC.

Abstract

The exclusive processes in electron-proton ($ep$) interactions are an important tool to investigate the QCD dynamics at high energies as they are in general driven by the gluon content of proton which is strongly subject to parton saturation effects. In this paper we compute the cross sections for the exclusive vector meson production as well as the deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) relying on the color dipole approach and considering the numerical solution of the Balitsky-Kovchegov equation including running coupling corrections. We show that the small-$x$ evolution given by this evolution equation is able to describe the DESY-HERA data and is relevant for the physics of the exclusive observables in future electron-proton colliders and in photoproduction processes to be measured in coherent interactions at the LHC.