Exclusive photoproduction of $\phi$ meson in $\gamma p \to \phi p$ and $p p \to p \phi p$ reactions

TL;DR

This paper calculates the amplitude for exclusive $ o ext{phi}$ meson photoproduction using pQCD, compares it with experimental data, and predicts cross sections in proton-proton collisions at various collider energies.

Contribution

It introduces a pQCD $k_{T}$-factorization approach to model $ o ext{phi}$ photoproduction and extends predictions to $pp$ collisions at high energies.

Findings

Calculated total cross sections agree with HERA data.

Predicted cross sections for $pp$ collisions at RHIC, Tevatron, and LHC energies.

Analyzed the ratio $rac{\sigma_{L}}{\sigma_{T}}$ and strange quark mass effects.

Abstract

The amplitude for $\gamma p \to \phi p$ is calculated in a pQCD $k_{T}$ - factorization approach. The total cross section for this process is compared with HERA data. Total cross section, as a function of photon-proton energy and photon virtuality, is calculated. We also discuss the ratio of $\sigma_{L}$ / $\sigma_{T}$ and the dependence on the mass of the strange quark. The amplitude for $\gamma p \to \phi p$ is used to predict the cross section for exclusive photoproduction of $\phi$ meson in proton-proton collisions. Absorption effects are included. The results for RHIC, Tevatron and LHC energies are presented.