Probing hidden-bottom pentaquarks in fixed-target collisions at the LHC

TL;DR

This study explores the potential to detect hidden-bottom pentaquarks through exclusive $$ photoproduction in fixed-target collisions at the LHC, predicting observable enhancements in specific kinematic distributions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to search for $P_b$ pentaquark states in photon-induced reactions at the LHC's fixed-target mode, providing detailed cross section and distribution predictions.

Findings

Presence of $P_b$ enhances rapidity distribution in LHCb range.

$P_b$ contribution dominates under certain kinematic cuts.

Predicted cross sections and distributions guide experimental searches.

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the possibility of searching for the hidden-bottom pentaquark states in photon-induced interactions at the LHC. We consider the presence of the $P_b$ resonance in the $s$-channel of the $\gamma p \rightarrow \Upsilon p$ reaction and estimate its contribution for the exclusive $\Upsilon$ photoproduction in the fixed-target mode of the LHC. Predictions for the total cross sections, rapidity and transverse momentum distributions are derived using the STARlight Monte Carlo considering $Pb-p$, $Pb-He$ and $Pb-Ar$ fixed-target collisions at the LHC. Our results indicate that the presence of the $P_b$ resonance implies an enhancement in the rapidity distribution in the kinematical range covered by the LHCb detector. We demonstrate that the $P_b$ contribution for the $\Upsilon$ photoproduction becomes dominant if kinematical cuts are imposed on the rapidity and transverse momentum of the final state. These results indicate that an experimental analysis of the $\Upsilon$ photoproduction in fixed-target collisions can provide complementary and independent checks of the existence of these states, and help to understand their underlying nature.