Gluon distributions in nuclei probed at the CERN Large Hadron Collider

TL;DR

This paper explores how direct photoproduction of heavy quarks and exclusive vector meson production at the LHC can be used to better understand and constrain the gluon distributions within nuclei, based on updated global fit data.

Contribution

It introduces a method to probe nuclear gluon modifications through specific high-energy processes at the LHC, enhancing the understanding of gluon distributions in nuclei.

Findings

Sensitivity of heavy quark photoproduction to gluon modifications

Potential of vector meson production to constrain nuclear gluon distributions

Implications for future experimental measurements at the LHC

Abstract

Using updated gluon distributions from global fits to data, we investigate the sensitivity of direct photoproduction of heavy quarks and exclusive production of vector mesons to varying strength of gluon modifications. Implications of using these processes for constraining nuclear gluon distributions are discussed.