Revision of absorption corrections for the $p p \to p p \pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ process

TL;DR

This paper refines the non-resonant model for proton-proton to proton-proton pion pair production by incorporating new absorption corrections, significantly affecting cross section estimates and distribution shapes, with implications for experimental data interpretation.

Contribution

It introduces additional absorption corrections related to the $ ext{π}N$ interaction into the existing model, improving accuracy in describing differential distributions at high energies.

Findings

Cross section decreases by about a factor of two with new corrections.

Some distribution shapes are notably altered, others remain stable.

Results impact interpretation of recent and future collider data.

Abstract

We include new additional absorption corrections into the Lebiedowicz-Szczurek (non-resonant) model for $p p \to p p \pi^+ \pi^-$ or $p \bar p \to p \bar p \pi^+ \pi^-$ processes. They are related to the $\pi N$ nonperturbative interaction in the final state of the reaction. The role of the absorption corrections is quantified for several differential distributions for $\sqrt{s}$ = 0.2, 1.96, 7, and 8 TeV. The new absorption corrections lead to further decrease of the cross section by about a factor of two. They change the shape of some distributions ($d \sigma / dt$, $d \sigma / dp_{t,p}$, $d \sigma/d \phi_{pp}$) but leave almost unchanged shape of other distributions ($d \sigma / dM_{\pi \pi}$, $d \sigma / dy_{\pi}$, $d \sigma /dp_{t,\pi}$, $d \sigma/ d \phi_{\pi \pi}$). The effect may have important impact on the interpretation of the recent STAR and CDF data as well as the forthcoming data of the ALICE, ATLAS + ALFA and CMS + TOTEM collaborations.