Low-mass vector-meson production at forward rapidity in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of low-mass vector meson production in proton-proton collisions at 200 GeV, providing differential cross sections at forward rapidity and comparing them with midrapidity data and theoretical models.

Contribution

First measurement of low-mass vector meson production at forward rapidity in $p+p$ collisions at 200 GeV, including differential cross sections and comparison with models.

Findings

Measured differential cross sections for $ ho$, $ ho$, and $$ mesons.

Reported integrated cross sections over specified $p_T$ and rapidity ranges.

Compared results with midrapidity measurements and theoretical calculations.

Abstract

The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider has measured low mass vector meson, $\omega$, $\rho$, and $\phi$, production through the dimuon decay channel at forward rapidity ($1.2<|y|<2.2$) in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV. The differential cross sections for these mesons are measured as a function of both $p_T$ and rapidity. We also report the integrated differential cross sections over $1<p_T<7$ GeV/$c$ and $1.2<|y|<2.2$: $d\sigma/dy(\omega+\rho\rightarrow\mu\mu) = 80 \pm 6 \mbox{(stat)} \pm 12 \mbox{(syst)}$ nb and $d\sigma/dy(\phi\rightarrow\mu\mu) = 27 \pm 3 \mbox{(stat)} \pm 4 \mbox{(syst)}$ nb. These results are compared with midrapidity measurements and calculations.