Exclusive $\pi^+\pi^-$ Production at the LHC with Forward Proton Tagging

TL;DR

This paper investigates the central exclusive production of pion pairs in proton-proton collisions at the LHC, analyzing its theoretical description, potential measurement strategies, and expected experimental signatures during low luminosity runs.

Contribution

It provides a detailed theoretical framework and feasibility study for measuring exclusive $ ho^+ ho^-$ production at the LHC using forward proton tagging and central pion detection.

Findings

Estimated visible cross section of 21 μb at 7 TeV

Over 2000 events expected for 100 μb$^{-1}$ luminosity

Differential distributions of pions and protons analyzed

Abstract

A process of Central Exclusive $\pi^+\pi^-$ production in proton-proton collisions and its theoretical description is presented. A possibility of its measurement, during the special low luminosity LHC runs, with the help of the ATLAS central detector for measuring pions and the ALFA stations for tagging the scattered protons is studied. A visible cross section is estimated to be 21 $\mu$b for $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV, which gives over 2000 events for 100 $\mu$b$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity. Differential distributions in pion pseudorapidities, pion and proton transverse momenta as well as $\pi^+\pi^-$ invariant mass are shown and discussed.